Posted on 07/19/2017 7:08:17 PM PDT by lightman
GLEN ROCK, YORK COUNTY - The naval officer at the center of a debate that has has splintered this quiet town on Wednesday night walked into a packed house and a standing ovation - and a compromise proposal aimed at allowing him to continue to broadcast Taps nightly over a public address system.
About 100 Glen Rock residents packed into the borough's ambulance building to lend support to U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Corney, whose nightly broadcast of the military bugle call over an amplification system has pitted residents of this town against those who want the borough to allow him to continue to broadcast it and those who say it is an insensitive, public nuisance.
Residents of this town - whose claim to fame is its 150-year-old Christmas caroling tradition - waited over an hour in the heat for the doors to open. Some wore T-shirts with message of support of the broadcast. Police presence was heavy with officers and K-9 units from Southern Regional and state police.
Borough council on Wednesday announced what it termed a reasonable solution: council proposes moving Corney's amplification system to Glen Rock Park, where the nightly broadcast would continue from the top of the hill.
Borough council president Doug Young explained that such a move would direct the sound away from residential areas. The borough would maintain the area, which would be marked by a dedicated plaque. Young said the American Legion is considering partnering up with the borough to sponsor the move.
The move would be made with the agreement of Corney.
"There are a lot of positive aspects to this proposal," Young said. "But there are a lot of things to work through."
A number of those things were aired during the meeting as nearly a dozen residents made cases in support or opposition to Corney's nightly ritual - one by one outlining a slew of reasons as to why the digitally broadcasted rendition is a good or bad thing.
At least one borough resident complained about the cost the Taps controversy has incurred on the borough.
Another resident blasted council for seemingly taking up the cause of the two residents who have complained versus the 2,200 borough residents, the majority of which have no problem with what others say is a noise nuisance.
Much to the chagrin of neighbors, Corney began his nightly broadcast of the traditional military bugle call 20 months ago as a way to honor fallen soldiers and veterans, spawning controversy throughout this quiet borough with residents lodging complaints that Corney was disturbing the peace and violating the borough's nuisance ordinance. The debate has engendered threats and accusations of bullying and intimidation.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania recently warned the borough to lift its restrictions on Corney's nightly broadcast, noting that the short musical ritual is expression protected by the First Amendment. The organization warned of a federal lawsuit.
Earlier this summer, borough council by unanimous decision found Corney's amplification of Taps to be in violation of borough ordinance. Council restricted him to broadcasting only on Sundays and recognized flag holidays, but had not enforced it.
Young, the borough president, on Wednesday announced that council would suspend any monetary penalties imposed on Corney as a result of those violations.
The meeting - which for the most part stayed orderly with only a few loud hecklings from the audience - fluctuated between applause and support for those in favor of the nightly ritual versus those opposed to it.
Almost everyone in support of Taps reiterated that it was a patriotic gesture that lent the town charm. Several of the residents evoked memories of fathers and grandfathers who had served, saying the bugle calls honors their memories.
Pauline Taylor had a different take on it. She lives within close proximity of Corney, and said that the nightly broadcast invades every inch of her home arousing painful emotions and memories for her. Taylor said she associates Taps with the military funeral service of her husband, a Vietnam veteran. She said that every night when she hears Taps she thinks about the moment she was handed the folded flag that covered her husband's coffin.
"It is not something that I want to relive every single day," Taylor implored. "It has nothing to do with being unpatriotic. I love my country and I love Taps but there is a place and time for everything. Glen Rock is not a military base."
Another resident said the military call reminds her of having lost her father 50 years ago. She urged Corney to respect his neighbors.
"Not everyone wants to hear that everyday and be reminded of losing a loved one," the resident said.
Corney has the support of more than 4,000 people who have signed a petition calling on the borough to permit him to broadcast Taps.
On Wednesday night he also had the weight of several dozen bikers who rode in a caravan of bikes just moments before the doors to the meeting hall opened. Residents standing outside of the building cheered and applauded the bikers.
Ryan Walton, the Maryland biker who organized the motorcycle caravan, said Corney's nightly ritual this year helped him through a rough period in his life. He was despondent one night as he drove through Glen Rock when he happened to hear the military call. He said it helped him put his life on the right path - and he thinks it can help others as well.
Still, Walton recognizes that the debate has two sides, a possible compromise and valid arguments from both sides.
"We are a country of values and morals and differnt things we vote on," Walton said Wednesday. "I just want to share a message that brings the county together.
Walton's caravan made its way from Maryland through Gettysburg and York and on down to Glen Rock, where they eventually gathered outside Freedom Armory, a gun shop and shooting range.
"I 'm not saying Taps should continued to be played, but at the same time, it was a saving grace for me and always has been."
Corney, a naval lieutenant commander with 20 years of military service and multiple deployments, addressed the meeting to explain his motives for the nightly ritual.
"I'm not doing this for my ego. I'm not doing this for myself," he said, but to say "say thank you to those who sacrificed so much."
He added: "Whatever the resolution, there is no cause to intimidate, to make threats on either side. Whether you are for Taps or against Taps. It doesn't matter that is not what my brothers and sisters would have wanted."
I live close enough to the good burg to want to send them a couple of bucks to sponsor the nightly “taps”.
How about it, fellow FReepers?
It’s the call to a good nights sleep knowing that the muzzie call to prayer will be drowned out.
I concur. 4 years of taps was enough for me. I wouldn’t care to hear it nightly off base.
Yeah, there’s a time and a place for everything.
I wouldn’t want that broadcast nightly on a PA system in my neighborhood.
Sorry.
.
A great childhood memory was living a couple of miles from the Navy base on the Mississippi River in New Orleans and hearing taps played at night when the wind was blowing in the right direction.
bkmk
Regards,
Now, if he sounded reveille every morning, it would be perfect.
Shoulda known I would be late with the thought with this crew......
Agreed, I served, and heard it enough. You want to listen to it, put your headphones on.
Be respectful of your neighbors. I appreciate the man’s patriotism, but Taps evokes strong emotions. I wouldn’t want it blasted into my home every day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.