Memory honored with taps ceremony
WARREN — During his career working for the Warren City Schools, Alfred Crouse will always be remembered for honoring the veterans and first responders by playing taps at sunset from the school’s administration building.
Crouse worked at cleaning the administration building and played taps from an upper window, which could be heard at nearby Courthouse Square.
Crouse died at age 68 on Dec. 30.
To remember him and that special playing of taps, Dominic Morataya, an eighth grader at Howland schools and member of Boy Scout Troop 28, played taps Saturday.
Brenda Crouse said she was contacted by the Boy Scouts who wanted to remember Crouse with a special gathering and playing of taps.
Family and friends of the Crouses gathered Saturday afternoon outside the Warren school administration building, where Dominic played taps.
The Scouts also presented Brenda Crouse and her family with a U.S. flag to honor Crouse.
Dominic said he enjoys playing taps and was glad to be part of the tribute to Crouse.
Crouse started playing taps locally in 2017.
“I play taps every night so people can hear it at Courthouse Square. Taps in itself is very moving to listen to.” Crouse had said.
Brenda Crouse said her husband wanted to honor the veterans and first responders for what they do and played taps to honor them.
While Crouse was not a veteran, his father Charles Crouse served in World War II. His brother Pete also served in the military and an uncle, Denny Petrosky.
Dr. Abbey Crouse, daughter of Alfred and Brenda Crouse, along with her husband, Ray Porea, and their two sons, Jameson, 5, and Gabriel, 18 months, attended the ceremony.
Jameson held a photo of his grandfather during the playing of taps.
In an interview in 2020, Crouse said he played taps to honor the armed forces and safety forces.
“There are people who regularly walk Courthouse Square at sundown waiting for me to play taps. There are some people who live nearby who open their windows in the nearby buildings. I look every day to see what time sundown is and then play the music then,” he had said.
Crouse was a Warren native who graduated from Howland High School. He lived in Bazetta for more than 30 years.