People
Vietnam Vet Plays Taps At Orange County Fair's Heroes Hall
By C. MacDonald
Navy Vietnam Veteran Glenn Blackway proudly pays
Taps at 6:30 every Wednesday, Saturday and
Sunday at the newly-renovated Heroes Hall during
the Orange County Fair, which runs through
August 13, 2017. Heroes Hall is located near the
Centennial Farm on the fairgrounds at 88 Fair
Drive.
"I'm glad I'm able to give back by honoring our
fallen warriors and educating everyone about the
need to understand the meaning of Taps and to
respect our flag," said Blackway, who has been a
professional musician throughout the United
States.
"It's special playing Taps at the Medal of Honor
Courtyard in front of Heroes Hall, which was
part of the Santa Ana Army Air Base, where
thousands of pilots were trained during World
War II," said the Huntington Beach resident.
"Visitors who hear the salute each evening gain
an emotional understanding about honoring all
who served in the military, including those who
made the final sacrifice."
Glenn plays Taps on a harmonica, just as it was
often done during the Civil War. (It's usually
heard on trumpet.) His story on how it was
created and first came to be played is worth
hearing before his performance. It will bring
tears to your eyes and make you proud to be an
American.
""I was spellbound hearing the history and got a
lump in my throat listening to Glenn's beautiful
rendition on harmonica," said Juanita Gomez,
whose father and grandfather served in the Army.
Glenn, who performed Taps at the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., also
plays harmonica and banjo as a regular guest
star with Forever Young, America's Oldest Act of
Professional Entertainers.
For more information on Heroes Hall, its
programs and hours year-round, visit
ocheroeshall,org or ocfair.com/heroeshall.
(The writer's father, who served overseas in the
US Army Air Corps, loved Taps, which were played
by a fellow World War II veteran at his
funeral.)
Photo By Bolton Colburn, Heroes Hall
Caption: Orange County Fair visitors honor our
fallen military during Navy Vet Glenn Blackway's
playing of taps on harmonica at Heroes Hall.