WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. (WCAX) – The VA Medical Center in White River Junction memorialized the 80th anniversary of D-Day with an emotional rendition of taps.
Tina Kebalka, the women veterans program manager, joined army veteran and nurse practitioner Micheal Daley to perform the traditional tune on two trumpets in front of the facility Thursday afternoon.
2,500 Americans lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy, France 80 years ago and hospital officials say the somber song was the best way to honor them.
“They mark it as the of WWII. It’s almost a moment in history where we lost the most in one day during WWII so having someone speak on behalf of those fallen didn’t seem appropriate,” said Katherine Tang with the VA Medical Center.
The playing of taps was immediately followed by a brief moment of silence. Several dozen medical center employees turned out to pay their respects.