Last night of ‘Taps' draws a crowd to Pennsylvania neighborhood
YORK, Pa. — Dozens of people gathered in the driveway of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Corney's home in Glen Rock on Thursday night and listened to his last playing of an amplified recording of "Taps."
Corney shook hands and thanked people for coming. Some live in the borough, others traveled in from outside. They stood quietly in the drizzle as the military tribute played for 57 seconds.
"I'm very happy that everybody was able to come out, especially with the weather," Corney said afterwards. "I think it's important that we as a community, we come together, and we can work to honor our men and women and the sacrifices that they've made for our country."
More: Pennsylvania town to move man’s nightly ‘Taps’ broadcast to city park
Corney has been playing the recording of "Taps" over loudspeakers every night, but his evening tradition has led to neighborhood disputes and legal battles in the past two years.
In the near future, an amplified recording of "Taps" will be played at a city park Glen Rock park. The borough voted unanimously earlier this month to allow it. Corney said he's hopeful that it can be set up in the park in a month.
Corney said when he first started playing "Taps," "I wanted it to be a part of the town, and that's going to happen, and maybe not in the exact way that I wanted it, but it's going to happen, and I think that's a good thing," he said.
More: 'Taps' divides residents in Glen Rock
Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Andy Raymond, a member of the AMVETS Post 22 in Hanover, and Christy Lucas, CEO of Roots for Boots, drove to Glen Rock to support Corney.
"We wouldn't want to be anywhere else tonight," Raymond said.