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WELCOME TO TAPS BUGLER

On this site you will find much information on the bugle call Taps, the history of bugles, and the role of bugles and buglers throughout American history. There is a section on Taps Performance Guidelines for those who are interested in sounding Taps for funerals and ceremonies, and a section on Getting Started on the Bugle, for those who are new to this subject and looking for resources. You will also find personal stories of buglers and links to other Taps and bugle-related sites on the Internet.

The National Salute – 2023

The National Salute, re-instituted in 2015, is a means to show our deep respect for our Unknown Soldiers buried in the plaza of the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery and all veterans. Taps For Veterans is asking buglers, trumpet and cornet players to participate in the National Salute ceremony on the 11th Hour, of the 11th Day, of the 11th Month.

REGISTER AT TAPS FOR VETERANS
CLICK HERE

Looking for some information on this website? Try looking through our index by
CLICKING HERE or use our search feature

August 1, 2023
Jari Villanueva Appointed As New Executive Director Of The Doughboy Foundation

The Doughboy Foundation, which supports programs, projects and activities that educate the public about America’s participation in World War I, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jari Villanueva as the new Executive Director.

Mr. Villanueva retired from the United States Air Force where he served for 23 years with the US Air Force Band in Washington DC. He was the Director of Military Funeral Honors for the State of Maryland from 2008-2017 and served as an officer in the Maryland Defense Force, the state militia.

Since 2012, Villanueva has headed Taps For Veterans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing live buglers for military funerals. He also founded Taps Across America, an annual event where thousands of participants sound Taps on Memorial Day during the National Moment of Remembrance. He was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve on two commissions and has recently been asked to serve on the music committee for the American Friends of Lafayette to commemorate the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824 visit to the United States.

More information on Mr. Villanueva’s bio can be found at: www.tapsbugler.com/jari-villanueva-biography-bio/

“I’m honored to have been asked to be part of this organization that recognizes, remembers, and honors the contributions of the 4.7 million Americans who served during World War I. Each day at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, we pay tribute to them with the daily sounding of Taps by a bugler in a WWI uniform. Next year we will install the sculpture that will be the  focus of the memorial. The magnificent artwork, entitled “A Soldier’s Journey”, will be a 58-foot-long bronze freestanding sculpture consisting of 38 figures telling the story of one Soldier during the war.”

Mr. Villanueva will start his new duties in September 2023.

THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN TAPS ACROSS AMERICA 2023

Daniel Sharp sounds Taps at the WWI Memorial

TAPS AT THE NATIONAL WWI MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON DC
https://doughboy.org/index.php/activities/daily-taps-the-memorial

YOU CAN WATCH THE DAILY SOUNDING OF TAPS HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDoughboyFoundation

Taps, the traditional lights out call in the military, traces its origin to the American Civil War and is used to honor military veterans at funerals. It is also sounded at memorial and wreath ceremonies to honor uniformed military members and those who have served our nation in times of war and peace.

Taps is sounded each day at 5 p.m. by a bugler in a WWI uniform. Taps has sounded each day since May 24, 2021. The Memorial is located at Pennsylvania Ave and 14th Street NW in Washington DC.


For Military Funerals, remember:
Taps can be performed by a live, non-military bugler.
If you need a bugler to sound Taps, TAPS FOR VETERANS is here to assist you
Request A Bugler Here



Video on the history of Taps
Jari Villanueva-Taps Bugler

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THE PROTOCOL FOR TAPS
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Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to evoke emotion than the call Taps. The melody is both eloquent and haunting, while the history of its origin is interesting and somewhat clouded in controversy. In the British army, a similar type of signal called Last Post has been sounded over soldiers’ graves since 1885, but the use of Taps is unique to the United States military, since the call is sounded at funerals, wreath-laying ceremonies, and memorial services. A bugle call that beckons us to remember patriots who served our country with honor and valor, it is the most familiar call and one that moves all who hear it.

On any weekday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, a military ritual occurs that is both familiar and moving. An escort of honor comes to attention and presents arms. A firing party comes to attention, then fires three volleys. After the briefest of moments, a bugler sounds the twenty-four notes of America’s most famous bugle call. The flag, held by members of the military honor guard, is then folded into a triangle reminiscent of the cocked hat from the American Revolution. That ritual is performed almost twenty times daily during the many funerals held at Arlington.

How did these twenty-four notes we know as Taps come into being? Who wrote the melody? When was it composed? Where was it first performed? What was the original use of the call and how is it used today? These questions have been asked by many over the past century. To date there has been no in-depth research published on the history of Taps.This site will answer many questions about Taps, bugling, and the history of this military tradition, as well as guide you if you are looking for a bugler to perform at a ceremony or funeral.

For more information contact Jari Villanueva

All the information on this site is © copyright 2001-2023, All Rights Reserved. If you wish to use any material on this website contact Jari Villanueva for permission

9 Comments

  1. Krista Krohn Krista Krohn October 29, 2023

    Re: The Final Hail and Farewell
    MSgt (Ret) William “Bill” Cordes

    As an fellow American and Patriot, I just wanted to say Thank You for your beautiful poem. It was well received and I hope more will find it.

    Kind regards,
    Krista

  2. John McGannon John McGannon September 12, 2023

    As I was about to drive away from a meeting today, (11 September 2023) where prayers were said remembering those we lost, I remembered that I had the apt on my phone. So I played TAPS.

  3. Todd C Phillips Todd C Phillips June 4, 2023

    Where can I find the Solo sheet music to
    Bugler’s Lament ?
    Thanks,
    Todd

  4. William “Bill” Cordes William “Bill” Cordes April 10, 2022

    While at Arlington National cemetery
    I was moved to write this poem.

    The Final Hail and Farewell
    MSgt (Ret) William “Bill” Cordes

    Attention to orders
    I thought I heard someone say

    To welcome this veteran
    Who has joined us today

    Row upon row
    of stones stand tall

    Marking earlier members
    Who had answered the call

    On farms and in cities
    They grew up fit

    They had a job to do
    And they did it

    The silence was broken
    As the procession went by

    Stopping in place
    Where the hero will lie

    The flag was folded
    And I felt a great pride

    Believing those here
    Welcomed another to their side

    Unknowns will thank you
    And I pray you were blessed

    Now join fellow warriors
    Who gave us their best

    And oh the stories
    They will tell

    There at your final
    Hail and Farewell

    PS
    I’m practicing on an old bugle and want to get to the point I’m able to perform Taps at any ceremony.

  5. dave dave March 15, 2022

    Hola queria saber si la cancion taps tiene copyright. puedo usarla en un video? sabes?

    gracias

  6. Mariano Mariano November 28, 2021

    Hola tengo una corneta de campo m 1892 con el marcaje Star by Japan y nunca he visto una corneta de este modelo con este marcaje querría saber si tengo instrumento de los buenos gracias y un saludo

  7. Lisa Lisa November 3, 2010

    I was researching to obtain information for my learning disabilities students on Veterans Day & I found your site. I am very pleased with the information & plan to pass it along to other teachers at my school.
    I am blessed to have come from a family who were proud to serve in the armed forces. I have uncles and cousins who served in the Army, Air Force and Marines, some saw combat while others served during peace time. My uncles who have passed on had military funerals and while it was a sad time at the loss of a family member, it was a proud moment as well when they were honored with full military funerals. The playing of “Taps” still brings tears to my eyes… from sadness as well as pride in the country I love.
    Thank you and God Bless America!
    Lisa

  8. EMMA Tate EMMA Tate November 1, 2010

    I had never attended a military funeral until Wed. my brother-in-law served in World War 11, I was so impressed with the ceremony the volunter guard was so procised the folding of the flag and of course TAPS. It was a very touching sound one that I will never forget.
    Thank you.

    Emma Tate

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