Somber anniversaries

By Rob Humphreys

Published: September 7, 2008

On Sept. 3, 2006, Pfc. E.J. Andino II died in Baghdad, the victim of an improvised explosive device that detonated below his Humvee.

The Culpeper resident and graduate of Madison County High School was 23.

It’s the memory of men like Andino that drives Gerry Schuck, 52, state director of Bugles Across America.

Schuck, who lives in Culpeper, makes it his life mission to honor the service of military veterans by sounding Taps at patriotic events and funerals.

On Wednesday, the two-year anniversary of Andino’s death, Schuck joined the parents of another fallen soldier — 2nd Lt. Leonard Cowherd — at a small cemetery in Reva.
There, at Andino’s grave near Bethel Baptist Church, he sounded Taps as two representatives of the Culpeper Minutemen paid their respects.

On Thursday, the seventh anniversary of 9/11, Schuck is taking his bugle to a more public setting — the streets of downtown Culpeper.

“In remembrance of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001,” he said, “and to honor those whose lives were taken that day, I propose to sound Taps” at four locations over a symbolic, 80-minute span:

- 8:46 a.m. — Fire station on West Davis Street. American Airlines Flight 11 flies into the north tower of the World Trade Center. “This first location,” Schuck said, “is chosen to play special tribute to all of the firefighters that perished that day.”

- 9:03 a.m. — Sheriff’s Office on West Cameron Street. United Flight 175 hits the WTC’s south tower. “This second location,” Shuck said, “is chosen to honor all police that perished that day in heroic efforts of sacrifice in protecting and assisting others.”

- 9:40 a.m. — Culpeper National Cemetery on U.S. Avenue. American Flight 77 strikes the Pentagon. This rendition will honor the men and women killed at the Pentagon.

- 10:06 a.m. — Corner of Main and Davis streets. United Flight 93 crashes in Shanksville, Pa. “I will sound Taps,” Schuck said, “to honor all of the heroic citizens who gave their lives that day in order to save hundreds more.”

Schuck, a native of Camp Hill, Pa., who has lived in Culpeper since 1978, has done 16 military funerals in the past two months — from Quantico to Broad Run. He also has tied yellow ribbons to the 29th Infantry Division signs along a 40-mile stretch of U.S. 29 from Remington to Ruckersville.

“Young men and women are still being killed,” Schuck says, reminding Americans not to be complacent about the sacrifice of others. “Freedom is not free.”

Schuck never served in the military, but his late father, Albert, survived Pearl Harbor and instilled in him a love of country and respect for those who wear the uniform.

“He was a true patriot,” said Schuck, who is passing down that heritage by teaching his 7-year-old twin grandsons — Madison residents Michael and Scott McCord — how to play the bugle and trumpet.

As for Thursday’s Sept. 11 ceremony, Schuck hopes many people turn out to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country.

“This is just a small way of giving back,” he said. “It’s the least I can do for what they’ve sacrificed.”

Rob Humphreys can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 128 or