MILLET – Kirk Wagner opens his dusty trumpet case once a year. On Nov. 11, he takes a deep breath, keeps his emotions at bay and belts out notes powerful enough to bring tears to the eyes of soldiers.
Wagner, 50, has been playing the “Last Post” since he was a teenager. Born and raised on a Millet farm, Wagner learned to play trumpet in the school band. When he was just 14 he played at the local Remembrance Day ceremony.
“Sometimes they couldn’t find a real trumpet player, so they would use a recording,” said Wagner.
The first year he played, he was standing outside in the cold.
“I was probably shaking because I was so nervous. I probably told everyone I was just shivering.”
Wagner hasn’t missed the Millet ceremony since.
Wagner’s grandfather served in the war and his own father was a long-serving Legion member. A man of few words, Wagner said his dad always expected him to be there.
“I’d show up in the morning and he’d give me a smile and say, ‘glad you made it son.'”
Wagner played the trumpet at his father’s funeral.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
Even after moving away from the family farm, Wagner drove through rain and snow to play for the veterans. One year while living in Red Deer he had car trouble. Wagner hoped on this motorcycle and made it to Millet at the last minute.
Wagner stored his trumpet on his parents’ farm.
“One year my mom had cleaned out the closet…. she didn’t remember where she put it,” said Wagner. “I was panicking and ended up borrowing one from a friend I used to play with in a band years ago.
“He dug it out of his basement, got the spider and cobwebs out of it and got it going just in the nick of time again.”
Wagner has played the “Last Post” so many times, he now gets caught up in the “peacefulness” of the song. It’s in the moments of silence after he finishes playing he sees the war stories in the veterans’ eyes. Over the years he’s heard about their heartbreak.
“They’d be having their breakfast in the morning in the galley, and look over at each other and wonder if that person is going to be with them when they sit down tomorrow morning.”
Wagner can’t imagine how it would feel not knowing if your co-worker is going to survive.
The Millet Remembrance Day ceremony is now inside at the Griffiths-Scott Middle School. Wagner has once again held off his winter travel plans, and will be there trumpet in hand.
“It’s something we can’t just ignore. It’s our forefathers that helped us have the world we have today.”
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