It began with three haunting notes .. AWESOME.

[auntAgonist]

BATH, New York (AP) -- 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.




http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/21/taps.buglers.ap/index.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Wow! That's cool!!

Wish I had been there to hear it. Taps always gives me goosebumps at funerals.

Seems its mostly high schoolers now who do it. We had a high schooler for my dad.

[auntAgonist]

3. the article brought tears to my eyes...

We ( the country as a whole ) just don't do enough to honour those who have fallen.

Bagpipes are fairly popular in the area of Ontario that I lived in. I don't think they are quite as common here in MI.

[Lex]

2. Beautiful.

(I'm so stupid--at first I thought the article said "burglars" and I was really confused for a moment.)

[auntAgonist]

4. heh I do that ALL the time ..

I read too fast and my old eyes see what they want :)

:hug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. heh heh - so did I!

WTF?! Oh, bugler!

[pinto]

6. What a great, and sad, piece of performance art.

[auntAgonist]

7. very touching indeed

There's hope for us yet.. some good young people coming up.

[rasputin1952]

8. The sound of Taps echoing through a Cemetery is always a

profound statement of the loss of someone who has had the courage to serve the nation, whether in Peace or War. These men and women have taken time from their normal lives, and risked, often losing, their lives to ensure that this nation would be protected.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who take on this burden should be held in high esteem by all of us, Veterans and Civilians alike.

We may not agree where they are sent, or what the mission may be, but they are there, giving their all for us. Our dislikes for where they go should be pointed at the proper targets, the politicians who use these brave men and women for opportunistic engagements.

I have served with some of the finest men and women this country has to offer, and although my Military time is long over, I think of them every day.

My father, my stepfather, uncles, friends, have had Taps played at their funerals. When the time comes, my son will hear Taps played at mine, and my brothers. The flag will be folded, and he shall receive a token from my country, of my duty performed.

To all those who have served, and to those who serve today...I salute you all, and the youths that participated in this exercise.


:patriot:

[Midlodemocrat]

11. My dad was buried in August with full military honors.

It was unbelievably touching. The soldiers carried his flag draped coffin to the gravesite, folded the flag and presented it to me 'on behalf of a grateful nation'. Then the bugler played taps. It was very, very moving.

[Zuni]

15. a soldier's funeral with full honors is an incredible experience

there is no way to describe how moving the ceremony is

[auntAgonist]

24. Just reading

about military funerals and honours makes me cry. I hope somehow we all honour servicemen and women as they should be honoured.

[NMDemDist2]

9. kick n/t

[blondeatlast]

10. My father had the most simple ceremony, the standard one given by the

VFW and the Veteran's Memorial Cemetary. That's what was he pre-arranged, and it was incredibly moving.

Reagrdless of a vet's financial situation, they are entitled to this lovely, subdued ceremony. It would be a pity to see that denied to anyone.

And of course, when Taps played, everyone was in tears.

A beauttiful, profound way to send a necessary message.

In tears again.

Edit: cemetary

[rasputin1952]

17. The vast majority of Vets request simple, if any Military Srvices....

It is part of the virtue of serving.

When I was at The Arizona Memorial, I was deeply touched by the fact that the few survivors, upon their deaths, have their ashes shipped to USS Arizona, and placed, with reverence as due, with their departed shipmates. This is just one aspect as to how Vet's feel about those who have gone on before, but an exceptionally poignant one.

This Memorial Day, thousands of Youngsters; Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
4H'ers, sons, daughters, nieces and nephews, will go out to Cemeteries all over the nation and place small flags by the graves of Veterans. I will be out there as well, as I do every year, setting some of the flags aright after the wind has taken its toll...reading the short inscriptions, admiring the spouses who lay beside the Vets...those who bore the brunt of the wars as well as the vets.

We have a Cemetery here that has a small area of Civil War Vets, complete w/a statue of Lincoln. The Stones are worn, they are cool from the shade of the trees. There is a worn marble bench, where one can ponder for a few moments of what those soldiers went through in the 1860's. I have sat there often, and silently thanked them all. I look at the statue of Lincoln, and wonder how Reconstruction would have played out if his Vision had come to be, "...with malice towards none, and charity for all".

I have heard Taps a thousand times, and it will ring through my mind on Memorial Day again...and I shall shed a tear.

[auntAgonist]

23. Thank YOU for a very heartfelt post

:hug:

[auntAgonist]

27. It's not much to ask is it?

:hug:

[giant_robot]

12. Wow. I travel through that area often.

That's really great.

[blondeatlast]

13. A Lounge post on the greatest page? I think so!

Can we get another couple of nominations?

[auntAgonist]

25. blondeatlast thank you for the nomination and to the others who

did the same! I've never had a thread go so long or get to the Greatest Page!

This story just isn't getting the attention it deserves on the news media.

thanks again.

kesha.

[Zuni]

14. That is incredible!

I wish I saw and heard this! Taps is one of the most beautiful and haunting pieces ever composed.

[nytemare]

16. If I don't have a bugler at my funeral, I will be pissed

I don't care about any expensive casket, I want to be cremated. But, I want a bugler, dammit.

That is all.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. A very loving tribute to the soldiers and the buglers. It did not get the

attention it deserved on the mainstream media. Too busy with Michael Jackson or some other "Reality" show outcome to deal with the actual reality?

[Algorem]

19. they should surround the White House while A-Hole#1 is there and play it

[fooj]

20. Now, there's a great idea!

:patriot:

[rasputin1952]

26. What a statement that would send...

Just the thought is inspiring.

:patriot:

[Algorem]

30. God I'd love it.

[blondeatlast]

31. One for every soldier who's passed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wouldn't that be a touching, subdued protest?

[JimmyJazz]

21. Thank you for sharing this article.

:hug:

[auntAgonist]

22. you are most welcome!

It touched me so much, I read it at least 4 times and wished I'd been there to hear and see it.

:hug:

[DeAngel]

28. Wow...

Just... :wow:

[xmas74]

29. I used to be a trumpet and bugle player.

I used to be on a list w/ an area veterans home volunteering my services for Taps at funerals. A few years back my trumpet was stolen and pawned off.
I just wrote a letter to the organization. They have a way for buglers and trumpeters to buy discount equipment. I told them that if there is someway to buy a trumpet at a decent price (I explained to them my budget) I would only be too glad to volunteer my services at funerals again.
Some funerals now have bugles that play a digital Taps w/ a faux bugle that is held to your lips (it appears that the person is playing but they are not). It's not the same as hearing someone really playing the song. And our vets deserve the real thing.

[blondeatlast]

32. Damn right they do. Is there somewhere I can contribute to help buy

trumpets/bugles for those who play at these services?

The gentleman at my dad's funeral was really playing, and he had a full schedule that day (6 vets).

It makes me well up just to remember it.

[xmas74]

33. Check out this site:

http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/

They take donations of money and usable instruments. The money can help w/ the purchase of instruments, keeping up the site and someone also told me that it has been used before to help the buglers sometimes w/ gas money (I did a funeral many years ago and I had to drive almost 250 miles for it. There was no one in the area at the time). People do the programs on a strictly volunteer basis(since you can always pay for a bugler-most funeral homes have a list of paid musicians in the area) but for adults it can be hard to volunteer on a regular basis (time off of work, driving time, etc). So I would think that every little bit would help.

[Kat45]

34. They used a tape recording of "Taps" at my father's funeral.

Military was there, but no bugler. Someone told me that's what they do these days. I think it's a bit tacky. :shrug:

[alittlelark]

35. A quote from the article...

<Taps is usually delivered digitally, using either a compact disc player placed near the grave or, increasingly since 2003, a Pentagon-approved, push-button "ceremonial bugle" that anyone can mimic playing by raising it to their lips.>

Kinda tacky.

[Rabrrrrrr]

36. Hellaciously tacky

But then, the reublicans are denying health care to vets, and combat pay to active duty soldiers, and otherwise fucking over soldiers and vets all they can.

So of course they'd go to a digital taps.

They really are disgusting (the digital ones, though the republicans are , too).

[rasputin1952]

38. I find it tacky as well...however...

When done 'Right', the Bugler is usually off and out of sight, preferably in a slight depression. The reason for this, is the "Lonesome Sound" one gets when Taps is played in the distance.

I have stood at many a Military Funeral, and have heard Taps many times...wherever it is played, it is a melody that touches the soul.

I recall a funeral on TV some years ago, can't recall who's, but the Bugler actually 'cracked' a note...it made the experience all the more human, knowing that the man playing Taps was affected by the loss as well.

There is also a famous pic of am African American playing Taps on an accordian in DC when FDR passed in review. Tears streaming down his right cheek in profile. It is one of the most unforgettable images I have ever seen. I think it was a Life Magazine photo, if I knew what to Google, I'd find it and keep it...:)

[AllegroRondo]

48. The funeral for JFK

the bugler cracked a note. It was incredibly emotional. Army Musicians still talk about it.

[rasputin1952]

49. The JFK funeral was incredibly emotional...

The whole thing w/Jackie and the black veil, the brothers in tails, John Jr and the salute...:cry:

I am astonded by my own ignorance, or perhaps I just blocked it out, that it was the JFK funeral where that note was 'cracked'. One thing for sure though, it made the whole experience just that much more 'human'.

I need to find a recoding of that, it must be out there somewhere.

[Rabrrrrrr]

37. As far as I am concerned, the gov. should be providing military buglers

Vets shouldn't have to hope that their families can find a bugler, and they shouldn't have to rely on volunteers.

We should have current active duty soldiers assigned to playing taps for our vets. Goddammit, they deserve at least that much respect.

And what would it cost the country? Half an F16 a year? 1/4 of an F16? Hell, the cost of one presidential yacht for President FuckOff would cover bugler and transportation costs for probably a decade.

[blondeatlast]

39. Absolutely, absolutely.

I think it's a marvelous idea.

It would also kind of drive home the devastation of base closures, too, if you think about it.

[auntAgonist]

40. I have been searching for a couple of hours to find the photo

that Rasputin speaks of in his post with no luck.

I did find this though, and it touched me deeply.






Unknown older bugler
If you ever think it's too cold to perform or think you
are feeling too ill to play, just carry this photo along.
I think it speaks volumes.


http://www.tapsbugler.com/buglersthroughhistory.html

[auntAgonist]

41. Haunting yet beautiful video of May 21 tribute!

http://www.yourtribute.com/viewtribute.asp?fh=glrservices&mv=echotaps.html

[rasputin1952]

42. What a wonderful tribute....

Tears swell up, and Pride fills me when I see young and old, men and women, Servicemembers, Vets and Civilians all come together for a common Tribute.

Thank you so much for finding that and linking it here....:hug:

[auntAgonist]

43. you're welcome!

I looked for the photo you spoke of too and I cannot find it.

I'm obsessed with this!

:hug:

[rasputin1952]

44. For those of you who have linked to the Video Tribute...

I recv'd the following email from the site asking that people jot a few words of what they think of the site.

If you would not mind:

This is the e-mail and a link to the site itself:

thank you for the info, I checked that website out and unfortunately could not put in my two cents...lol... would you do me a favor and pass on the website www.myvideotribute.com and not the link, so I can get a feel of how many people are viewing the tribute.
My son is featured on this video also, Maybe I'm just a proud mom. Thanks for your help.
Kathy Rose
Corning, NY


She is talking about linking to DU, I mentioned that I saw this link here.

Thank you all for your patience and your posts in this thread...:)

[Tsiyu]

46. Kick

:kick:

[progmom]

45. my parents were there

the whole town of Elmira lined the streets and sat in lawn chairs, like it was a parade. which, of course, it wasn't. i guess when you were right there, in the middle of it, it was somewhat of a non-event. but the concept as a whole is beautiful. and it was very well planned and executed.

[rasputin1952]

47. I would have loved to have heard it come and go...

and echoing in the mountains...:)

[Samoflange]

50. FDR funeral photo

"Graham Jackson at FDR's Funeral" taken by Ed Clark.




If the link doesn't work, just type "Graham Jackson" into a Google images search

[rasputin1952]

51. I was wrong, it was not Taps he was playing, it was "Going Home"