Bugles Across America

From their Website:
Bugles Across America was founded in 2000 by Marine veteran Tom Day, after Congress passed legislation stating Veterans had a right to at least 2 uniformed military people to fold the flag and have Taps performed by a bugler or recording. Bugles Across America was begun to take this a step further, and in recognition of the service these Veterans provided their country, BAA felt that every Veteran deserved a live rendition of taps played by a live Bugler. To this end, BAA actively seeks volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

Bugler Volunteers can be male or female. They can play a traditional bugle with no valves, or they can perform the ceremony on a Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, or a 1, 2 or 3 valved bugle. The bugler can be of any age as long as they can play the 24 notes of Taps with an ease and style that will do honor to both the Veterans, their families, and the burial detail performing the service.

Here is the Dod Directive 1300.15 dated Oct 22, 2007 that governs Military Funeral Honors:
Download the DOD Directive 130015 Here

BAA Website
Tom Day Email

Tom Day Interview on NPR

Tom Day Radio Interview
Echo Taps Event New York
Here is a Young Bugler who sounds Taps as a volunteer

Pentagon Channel American Veteran

Since the inception of BAA hundreds of volunteers have signed up to perform Taps at funerals. They formed as a nonprofit organization and have a Code of Ethics that members are to abide by and and a set of  Bylaws

Each state has a state director and assistant director. They are in charge of the buglers who sign up in their respective state to insure a bugler is sent to a funeral or ceremony as requested. Those in need of the services of Bugles Across America go to the website and click the Request A Bugler button. They then fill out form and submit to the site. From there the information is sent to the appropriate State and a bugler who can handle the funeral or event is contacted. Usually the bugler will contact the requestor to verify date, time and location.

Bugles Across America is waging an offensive against the use of the Ceremonial Bugle also known as the Digital Bugle. BAA refers to the use of a recording of Taps at Military Funerals as “Stolen Dignity.”  Information on BAA’s Stolen Dignity can be found HERE

If you would like to volunteer or request the services of a bugle visit their WEBSITE

Here are some resources put out by Bugles Across America for their buglers

BAA Brochure
Buglers Handbook 2007 BAA
5 Minute Bugle Course