"My first recollection is that of a bugle call"

This quote by Douglas MacArthur speaks with the power of memory and the value of the past. It recommends that the first thing he keeps in mind is the noise of a bugle call, which could be a call to arms, a call to attention, or a call to prayer. This could be a metaphor for his life, as he was a military leader and a man of faith. It might also be a tip of his youth, when he was exposed to the military life and the sound of the bugle. The quote could also be translated as a pointer of the importance of the past and the power of memory. It recommends that the past is something to be remembered and treasured, and that the memories of our past can shape our present and future.