The sound of a promise kept
John Muckerheide, Osgood, is pictured at the New Marion cemetery for his annual playing of taps in honor of his grandfather who he made a promise to many years ago.
For many, Memorial Day traditions are rooted in remembrance. For one Osgood man, that tradition also carries a promise made to his grandfather decades ago.
The annual sounding of taps at the New Marion Cemetery has become a deeply personal tribute for John Muckerheide who travels each Memorial Day with the Osgood American Legion cemetery detail.
Muckerheide, who graduated from Jac-Cen-Del in 2014, began playing the trumpet after joining the junior high band at JCD. His grandfather bought him his first trumpet with one condition attached.
“If I buy this trumpet for you, you have to play taps every year for Memorial Day,” his grandfather told him.
Excited and determined, the young musician agreed.
In 2009, Muckerheide began joining his grandfather, Louis “Louie” Kieffer, and the Osgood American Legion members on cemetery detail each Memorial Day weekend to play taps following the military honors and 21-gun salutes at each stop.
Years later, that promise still stands.
The Memorial Day holiday of 2021 brought a permanent change in Muckerheide’s annual cemetery schedule. Kieffer, Muckerheide’s grandfather, passed away in March that year and was laid to rest at the New Marion cemetery.
For the last six years, Muckerheide separates from the group of Osgood American Legion members and quietly joins the members of the Versailles American Legion at the New Marion Cemetery at 10:15 a.m.- one of the stops on the Versailles schedule.
Since then, the sounds of taps from Muckerheide and his trumpet at the New Marion stop, has caught the attention of the Versailles post members. Members did not know who this man was that showed up each year playing the taps.
The one thing they did know though- was that Muckerheide would be there on Sunday- providing a beautiful way to honor those we have lost.
To Muckerheide, it’s a way to honor the life of his late grandfather who was not only a proud veteran, but the one who purchased the trumpet that he still plays to this day while continuing to fulfill the promise he made as a young boy.
After finishing at New Marion, Muckerheide reunites with the Osgood Legion detail at Hopewell Baptist Church to continue the remainder of their Memorial Day route. A route that started years ago when a young boy was given a meaningful task by his grandfather.
