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Army Air Corps Cadet Bugler sounding "To The Color"
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“ Welcome to Tapsbugler! This is a blog like site and you can write feedback on many of the posts here. Have fun exploring. Either click the Index tab for a listing of the posts or do a search in our great search box. Enjoy the site and I hope you come away with a little more knowledge about this great American treasure we have in those 24 notes. ”
Quick Links
- Bugles Across America
- Bugles for use at Funerals, Ceremonies and Civil War events-Bugles for Performing and Collecting
- Find a Bugler
- Guest Book
- History of Taps
- Taps Music, Sound Files and Taps information
- Taps Performance Guidelines
- The Broken Note-The story of Taps at the funeral of President Kennedy
- The Taps Myth
Celebrate 150 Years of Taps
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Thank you for seeing that a beautiful recognition is to carried on into the future.
I work for a cemetery and have heard numerous times and still tears come to my eyes as I think of the sacrifices made so that I can live as I do – with liberty and freedom for all in the greatest country on earth! Thank You to all Veterans!
I am 57 years old and played the trumpet in high school at many many Memorial day services last getting it out of the attic in 1971..I never had the honor or priviledge to serve BUT both Mom and Dad were and are WWII veterans..Recently while chatting at a local fitness center a friend of mine Eddie active and commander of the local Legion was telling me about them no longer having a live bugler for Taps using an electronic horn instead…Taps always was very meaningful to me especially at Dads military funeral 11 years ago Mon now 87 still going strong …So I agreed to first go home to see if I could find the trumpet in the attic,secondly was it even in working order,and lastly could I still actually play it..?? Much to my surprise I still could…So ends or begins the story and now I have ressurected something from my past I NEVER thought I would ever do again and it means more to me now than it ever has in the past…..I am Proud to honor our nations veterans who so gallantly served and provided us our freedom as we know it today….Wished I was fully retired I would travel and do this for any veteran anywhere anytime……..In Appreciation…..Jeffrey L.Minnich Sr. Lehighton,Pa.18235
Always moving. My Father and husband were career Navy men and “Taps” has always had a special place in my heart.
Looking forward to playing with you in Charleston. I do taps at funerals regularly. What do you play at Confederate memorials?
I have played Taps at Funerals for ex American Servicemen, the last being a man with the name George Washington who died here in Perth Western Australia. AS a Funeral Director I often play the British Infantry ” Last Post” and “Reveille” and also the British Cavalry version. Being an ex Musician in the British Army ( Blues and Royals) and a member of the State Trumpeters I took my turn in doing guard duties which required about a doz calls which included Reveille,Watering order,Stables, Boots and Saddles,Mess call, Officers dress for dinner, 1st Post,Last Post, Lights out.When on mounted duty ( Queens Lifeguard), there were calls such as Left Wheel Right Wheel, Forward March. Royal Salute, General Salute etc etc. I have played at many State occassions and in St Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral, Windsor Castle Buckingham Palace etc.When I came to Australia I played in the Australian Army Band but never touched a Bugle since I played in the Sea Scouts when I was 14.
It is an honor to know so many men who give of themselves for Taps. What a gift you have. Thanks for this site and for Taps150. I am also impressed with the musical background of those who leave notes here. I hope to see all of you at the activities that are mentioned on the Taps website. God bless you for all you do.
I am an Army Veteran and member of VFW Post 2913, American Legion Post 269 and AmVets Post 111 in Patchogue, New York. I am 73 years old and have been playing trumpet since I was eight. I play Taps for various functions on Memorial day, Veterans day and at Military funeral Services. I also perform at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook, N.Y.
I had the honor of playing Taps at 3 different dedications for Navy seal, Lt. Michael Murphy, Medal of Honor recipient.
Thank you for a very informative site
I have played the bugle since I was eleven years old receiving my first bugle, an old plastic model bought at a local Army Surplus Store. I first started playing taps at a military ceremony in Zaragoza Air Base in Spain, 1986. Since then I’ve been playing taps at Confederate Cemetery ceremonies all accross the South from Texas to Virginia. I also had the honor of performing for a number of Vietnam Veterans. I am a son of a Confederate Veteran and a Vietnam Veteran.
I’m a 65 year old Bugler with Bugles Across America. I also play for the Elks Lodge, I belong to and I consider it an honor and a privledge to play Taps for Veterans and Patriotic events. I enjoy Taps 150 and commend you for it’s content.
I love this taps has always been my favorite bugle call and even more so from hearing every night while working at a BSA camp for 3 summers
i also play trumpet baritone an tuba in marching band
Thank you for this informative site. I was in the USAF Band of the West in San Antonio, TX back in the 90′s. I have now been asked to play Taps at my corporation this Friday, for our Veteran’s Day ceremony. So I visited this site to brush up and make sure I get it right. I always considered sounding Taps a big responsibility. I have played principal trumpet for years in bands and orchestras, but Taps still feels like some of the highest pressure around, due to its deep meaning and heritage.
p.s. Our AF brass quintet played several of your arrangements, which we also enjoyed greatly!
I am a member of the Honor Guard, VFW Post 3036, Hattiesburg, Ms. I spent 10 years in the U.S. NAVY as a Naval Aviator. Then I went in to the U.S. Secret Service for 20 years. In 2004 I was asked to play TAPS for a funeral in Purvis, Ms, my hometown. The VFW Honor Guard was conducting the funeral and the leader heard me play. He invited me to play with the Honor Guard and I was made a life long member of the VFW. As so November 7, 2011 I have played TAPS for 215 military funerals.
Howell Purvis
I am a Texas State Director for Bugles Across America.
Thank you for what you do for the “cause” of TAPS.
I played my first Funeral Honors Service for a Coast Guardsman in 1947. I was 12 yrs old at the time. It was then, as it is now, a very special experience. Since that time I have played in excess of 11,000 services (funerals, memorial services, grave sites and cemetaries on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, July 4, etc.). I served as an Army musician in 1958-59, as a member of the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra and Soldiers Show Co. stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. It was my privilege to serve then and it is my honor to serve now.
I am a Texas State Director for Bugles Across America.
Thank you for what you do for the “cause”of TAPS.
I played my first Funeral Honors Service for the funeral of a Coast Guardsman in 1947. I was 12 yrs old at the time. It was then, as it is now, a very special experience. Since that time I have played in excess of 11,000 services(funerals, memorial services, grave sites and cemetaries on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, July 4, etc.). I served as an Army musician in 1958-59, as a member of the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra and Soldiers Show Co. stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. I was my privilege to serve then and it is my honor
Hello Sir,
My father is buried in Arlington Section 60 lot 275 his name is SGM Arthur Charles Pine. This is a very emotional song and I am sure it was meant to be, Thank you for what you do. I appreciate that this was played at my father’s funeral. Thank-you to tall the soldiers and I wish I could have been there that day August 8th in 2007 but my father did not die of natural causes and I can not stand there until JUSTICE has been served. Thank-you from “his” ARMY BRAT. Deborah June Pine Hibbs
I have a string ensemble for which we are arranging taps as part of a Civil War medley of tunes. I hope to get it recorded, and will forward same to you. I have one son who is an Army VFW and a son in the AF. I appreciate your service. God bless.
as a trumpet player myself, i had heard in the past about descrepancies to the origins to taps..i am glad to find your site with the true facts, since i am preparing for a special in church for 9/11…as a retired military vet, its nice to have the “real word” to keep in perspective when honoring our comrades that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation..thankyou very much!!!!
CORY HARRINGTON, TSGT/E6, USAF (RET)
I appreciated the information about playing straight eighth notes in Taps. I have always played with the dotted eighth! Historical accuracy is important to not to only keep the tradition going,but and time tested also.
I am an ex soldier and I have always wanted to learn to play Taps, With the assistance from a friend whom plays instruments… purchased a Bugle for me to learn.. Not musically inclined so this is tuff for me, but will overcome and adapt. Regards… Luke
Thank you for having this article available on line. I am presenting a program on Bugles and Bugling at a Rotary Club meeting tomorrow.
I own about 5 bugles but prefer to play a WWII vintage Japanese Bugle (like ones in Tora Tora Tora). The legend is this Bugle is from Iwo Jima, but in much too good shape.
Bob Francis
314 808 0669
Mr. Villanueva,
Thanks so much for such valuable information on the TAPS melody. I was moved to reading about the history of TAPS because just last night, August 8, 2011, following the attack of the SEALS Team 6 helicopter over the weekend, I heard TAPS being played. It was the first time I had heard it played live and was so moved by it, and felt so much of the pain and heart-felt love and sympathy of the person playing it. My condolences to the military families who have lost loved ones, and so much appreciation and thanks for the commitment of our military men and women. It is so true that, ‘All gave some, but some gave all.
Sincerely,
Hello Jari,
I am 52, ex-Air National Guard and an ex- junior high and high school marching band flute player. I saw the segment of Bugles Across America on television on Memorial Day and decided to learn trumpet so that I too can play TAPS at the funerals/memorial services of service men and women who have passed away. I just started playing actual notes a week ago. Although it seems impossible to improve, I can tell I am getting better. Practice and technique are key.
I love what you’ve done in creating this website and in sharing information about what being a bugler is about. Furthermore, I think it’s great that you have clips and snippets showing how a bugle should be played, and how a bugler should carry themselves in ceremony. You are a great example to follow. Thank you.
Jari,
I am an ex serving soldier with the australian army who is now 50 is it still possible to learn how to play the bugle and were do i go after here. My goal is to play at my fathers funeral hopefully in many years ( he is 72now) to come he is ex army 30years, me 10years, my brother 17years. Being able to play not only the last post ,revaley,and hopefully taps but many others as well. My kids are just starting to pay attention to what dad grandad and uncle stood for. So any advice would be much appreciated. I love the work you have done and with the passion you have for this subject i am sure you have started something time enduring. Regards phil
Jari,
Thank you so much for your research, website, and book. It seems every Memorial Day I get an email about the longer, extended “full version” of “Taps” with a link to the “Il Silencio” video. They don’t sound the same to me, but I have a musical background and I can easily hear the differences. I took Orchestra through all of high school.
I also was a Boy Scout, and earned the music merit badge. I was planning on learning the bugle and get that badge, too, but my troop folded. Even so, I’ve always been fascinated with bugle calls.
Since high school, I served 5 years in the USAF, and 25 years in Civil Air Patrol. I remember correcting an airman in tech school on the proper honors for “To the Color.”
My most recent musical endeavor is singing with a barbershop harmony group, the Twin Mountain Tonesmen. We sang “Taps” in our May show last year with one of our guys playing it on trumpet backstage. The audience was moved by our performance and it was one of the best shows we’ve done in years.
We publish a newsletter among our members. Since this year’s “Il Silencio” email came from a member (our editor, actually), I thought it appropriate to submit the “real story” for him to publish. I will include tapsbugler.com, taps150.org, your name, and the title of your book as sources. You may email me if this is inappropriate.