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Buglers Scarce for Veterans' Funerals
Yahoo News ^
Posted on 05/21/2005 6:43:30 PM PDT by Retired Chemist
BATH, N.Y. - It began with three haunting notes from a teenage girl. A second bugler, about 100 yards down the road, picked up the tune. And then a third.
More than 850 buglers, trumpeters and other horn players fanned out Saturday along 41 miles of roads in rural western New York and performed a cascading rendition of taps to highlight the scarcity of buglers at veterans' funerals.
The 24-note melody started up at Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, overlapped from one instrument to the next as it reverberated through a string of small towns from Painted Post to Campbell to Savona, and closed out nearly three hours later at Bath National Cemetery.
The Armed Forces Day tribute, dubbed Echo Taps, took in at least 866 musicians from 30 states playing all varieties of brass horns, from trombones and tubas to flugelhorns and valveless bugles.
"This is just a way of paying tribute to our veterans and hopefully bringing more buglers into the fold," said organizer Les Hampton, a Corning Inc. engineer who served on a Navy destroyer in the Vietnam War. "If there's a selfish reason for doing this, I just hope that when my time comes that I have a live bugler."
Thousands of spectators lined the winding route, standing at rapt attention as the music came through. Some put their hands to their hearts, others dabbed at tears or saluted.
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bugler; cary; fallen; militaryfunerals; taps; tribute
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To: Retired Chemist
Back when I was in Jr High, I played trumpet in the band, and I could play Taps very well. Its not the same as a Bugle, but purty close..
2
posted on
05/21/2005 6:52:54 PM PDT
by
Paradox
(In my heart, I will always be something of a Liberal, in my head, a Conservative. Head wins.)
To: ducks1944; Ragtime Cowgirl; Alamo-Girl; TrueBeliever9; anniegetyourgun; maestro; TEXOKIE; ...
The Armed Forces Day tribute, dubbed Echo Taps, took in at least 866 musicians from 30 states playing all varieties of brass horns, from trombones and tubas to flugelhorns and valveless bugles. "This is just a way of paying tribute to our veterans and hopefully bringing more buglers into the fold," said organizer Les Hampton, a Corning Inc. engineer who served on a Navy destroyer in the Vietnam War. "If there's a selfish reason for doing this, I just hope that when my time comes that I have a live bugler."
click
3
posted on
05/21/2005 7:05:24 PM PDT
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: Retired Chemist
My daughter can play it on her tenor sax.
4
posted on
05/21/2005 7:07:44 PM PDT
by
SilentServiceCPOWife
(Welcome to the Hotel Free Republic-You can check out any time you like but you can never leave)
To: Retired Chemist
Our Veterans are fortunate as we have an Army Band on post. Not only do they do a fine job at the funerals with the bugler but REALLY support the community. Free open air summer concerts in the park, work as tutors at the High School with the band and are big time boosters for the high school overall. The band will come on their own with instruments to sit in the stands with the high school band during home football games. Do I love these kids from the Army Band --- You bet!
5
posted on
05/21/2005 7:41:43 PM PDT
by
AZHua87
(Insurgent BloggerVet!)
To: Retired Chemist; cyborg; Gabz; xsmommy
Oh, man. Only time I ever wished I was in elmira. Beautiful.
And I have three cousins that live there!
6
posted on
05/21/2005 7:46:47 PM PDT
by
patton
("Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write.")
To: Retired Chemist
At most veteran's funerals, they are apparently playing "Taps" from a boom-box. When I go, that will be enough for me.
7
posted on
05/21/2005 7:48:41 PM PDT
by
jackbill
To: AZHua87
Last time I heard taps was at my grandfather's funeral, at Arlington Cemetery.
Please pause for a moment of silence.
8
posted on
05/21/2005 7:49:14 PM PDT
by
patton
("Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write.")
To: jackbill
Want Taps, but want a lone piper in full dress playing amazing grace too.
9
posted on
05/21/2005 7:49:57 PM PDT
by
AZHua87
(Insurgent BloggerVet!)
To: patton
10
posted on
05/21/2005 7:52:42 PM PDT
by
AZHua87
(Insurgent BloggerVet!)
To: Retired Chemist
Time to bring back the Drum and Bugle Corps... (I am the last one on the right of the bottom row...24 years ago...)
11
posted on
05/21/2005 7:54:27 PM PDT
by
Preech1
(Lo children are an heritage of the LORD...)
To: AZHua87
12
posted on
05/21/2005 7:56:56 PM PDT
by
patton
("Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write.")
To: Retired Chemist
At first glance, I thought it said burglars were scarce.
To: Retired Chemist
Buglers Across America.. I met a woman who donates time to this group while attending a funeral in the southern part of our state.
14
posted on
05/21/2005 8:05:09 PM PDT
by
armymarinemom
(My sons freed Iraqi and Afghanistan Honor Roll students.And we're unlikely to get a look into this t)
To: Retired Chemist
Some put their hands to their hearts, others dabbed at tears or saluted. Just reading this brought tears. What a wonderful tribute.
15
posted on
05/21/2005 8:05:57 PM PDT
by
Gabz
(My give-a-damn is busted.)
To: patton
16
posted on
05/21/2005 8:06:17 PM PDT
by
Gabz
(My give-a-damn is busted.)
To: Preech1
four guys from my old Corps participated today...
17
posted on
05/21/2005 8:06:54 PM PDT
by
Chode
(American Hedonist ©®)
To: Retired Chemist
When my WWII and Korean War veteran grandfather died last year, both TAPS and the gun salute were played through a tinny portable radio. Cheap and tasteless, IMO.
To: Calpernia
We payed a group from the VFW for my fathers funeral, they provided the honor guard and 2 buglers, in addition to the 3 active duty soldiers on flag detail. It was well worth the money ($50.00).
19
posted on
05/21/2005 8:42:01 PM PDT
by
Bostton1
(Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns have!)
To: Calpernia
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