VA Seeks Volunteers to Play ‘Taps’ at National Cemeteries

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2007 – Hundreds of volunteer buglers and trumpeters are being sought to participate in Armed Forces Day observances held at veterans’ cemeteries nationwide and overseas, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official said here yesterday.

The event, called “Echo Taps Worldwide,” will be held May 19 and is co-sponsored by the VA’s National Cemetery Administration and “Bugles Across America,” a volunteer group, said Michael Nacincik, the cemetery administration’s chief of communications and outreach support.

“Echo Taps” will take place at VA-operated national cemeteries, U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service national cemeteries, and American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries located overseas, Nacincik said.

“It is an extremely important event for a number of reasons,” Nacincik said. “It honors the service of veterans to our country.”

The initiative also encourages musicians to perform as live buglers at veterans’ funeral ceremonies year round, Nacincik said. In 2006, 688,000 veterans died in the United States, he noted, with most belonging to the World War II generation.

“There is overwhelming popular support to have ‘Taps’ played at veterans’ funerals,” Nacincik said. “And, obviously, with that many burials taking place, there are not enough buglers to provide a live bugler at every burial.”

Nevertheless, Bugles Across America has done “a very good job” of obtaining volunteers to play “Taps” at military funerals, Nacincik said.

“It is important that our nation preserves the tradition of a live bugler to play final military honors,” Leslie Hampton, a Navy veteran and Bugles Across America volunteer, stated in a recent VA news release.

“Hopefully, ‘Echo Taps’ will go even further and help to identify people who know how to play ‘Taps’ or are willing to learn how to play ‘Taps’ and motivate them to want to provide the service when they’re available at veterans’ funerals in the future,” Nacincik said.

Volunteer buglers and trumpeters must register through the VA’s website, which is attached to the “Echo Taps” site at www.echotaps.org, Nacincik said.

The VA operates 124 veterans’ cemeteries across the United States, Nacincik said. Generally, persons who’ve received other than dishonorable discharges after completion of military service are eligible for burial at a VA-operated national cemetery, he noted.

Related Sites:
Participate in Echo Taps Worldwide
Echo Taps
Department of Veterans Affairs Burial and Memorials information

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

[amchugh]

Otherwise, they are left with this...
http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2002Oct/gee20021028016989.htm

[bnelson44]

They said part of the objective of the program is to foster a new generation of buglers to play Taps, this would be students. When they first organized the original EchoTaps they had players as young as 9 and as old as 90. They start on the low E (Bb trumpet) to match their ability. Look on their website http://www.echotaps.org then go to 2005 Event, then photos. You will see the range of players.

The students love doing it because they had a personal way to express the patriotism and gratitude.

You all might pass the information on to your High School music directors and Boy Scout groups.

[leda]

do you think a clarinet player we know might be considered?

[Caramelgal]

If the VA wants buglers, they should also check out these two drum and bugle corps organizations.

Drum Corps International
http://www.dci.org/

Drum Corps Associates
http://www.dcacorps.org/

[bnelson44]

You don't know until you try. You can register here:

http://www1.va.gov/volunteer/EchoTaps_form.cfm

[bnelson44]

If you have contacts with them, you might pass along this press release to them.

[SandRat]

The Boy Scout Idea I will directly to the local Scout Council.

[Caramelgal]

"If you have contacts with them, you might pass along this press release to them."

I don't directly but half my family is involved or was and several now teach high school bands. Will definately pass along.

[leda]

hey thanks! since he taught himself to play the
clarinet in a month or so, i suppose he could
give the bugle a shot too... :)

[patton]

That is what I was wondering - he might could. ;)

[bnelson44]

everyone.

1) Turn your speakers on
2) go to this page: http://www.echotaps.org/

[bicyclerepair]

I just emailed them inquiring about other volunteer opportunities they may have.

[bnelson44]

They recommend starting with a low E (Bb trumpet) to match their ability.

[bnelson44]

They have a pull down that has all kinds of options here:

http://www1.va.gov/volunteer/EchoTaps_form.cfm

[quietolong]

Bugles Across America

Bugles Across America, NFP was founded in 2000 by Tom Day, when Congress passed legislation stating Veterans had a right to at least 2 uniformed military people to fold the flag and play taps on a CD player. Bugles Across America was begun to take this a step further, and in recognition of the service these Veterans provided their country, we felt that every Veteran deserved a live rendition of taps played by a live Bugler. To this end, we are actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

Bugles Across America now has over 5000 bugler volunteers located in all 50 states and growing number overseas. Since the Department of Veterans Affairs is expecting more than 1/2 million veterans to pass every year for the next 7 years, Bugles Across America is ALWAYS recruiting new volunteers

More:


Bugles Across America
http://xeml.buglesacrossamerica.org/index.xeml