“Echo Taps” for former US Army Captain and Senator Robert J. Dole

About This Project

Ding-ding. Ding-ding. Ding-ding. Ding-ding.

On a cold, windy and cloudy morning, the Milan Memorial Bell in WVMP rang out four bells (10 am local time). At that same exact moment in National Cathedral in Washington, DC, the funeral service for the late Senator Robert J. “Bob” Dole began. As the Milan Bell went silent, local Bugles Across America trumpeters John Noonan and Don Hansen began played “Echo Taps” from two locations in the Park to honor the military service of late Senator Dole.

Dole was born and raised in Russell, Kansas. He served in the United States Army during World War Two with the 10th Mountain Division. He was severely wounded in Italy in 1945  Those wounds left him with a permanent limited mobility in his right arm and numbness in the left.  During his military service, Dole was decorated three times, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries, and the Bronze Star with “V” Device for valor for his attempt to assist a downed radioman. Dole was medically discharged from the army in 1947 with the rank of captain. Recovering from his wounds took Dole through several hospitals, nine operations, and over three years of rehabilitation and recuperation.

Dole went on to graduate from  Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas in 1952 with both undergraduate and law degrees.

Bob Dole continued his life of public service getting into politics. He served his home state of Kansas at first the state level then in the US Congress from 1960 – 1996.

RIP Senator Dole.