Wanted : Buglers to play for fallen heros

[oldbandnerd]

After reading the post about a bugler possibly using a fake bugle with a recording in it I decided to try yo get the word about this wonderful organization that helps provide buglers for military funerals .

This is the post : viewtopic.php?t=11130

The organization is Bugles Across America . It provides a database of mostly civilian volunteers who play taps for military funerals . I am currently a memeber myself . I get 3 or 4 e-mails a week asking for buglers all around my area . Unfortunenatly,I have been unable to play because most funerals are done during the day and I can not get away from work.


Think about it folks. I get 3 to 4 e-mails EVERY week . The Armed Forces don't have the resources to send a bugler to every one . Most are lucky to get a color guard . The need for buglers is great . If you can play or know some one who can please ask them to join and get their name in the database . Another way that you can help is to contac funeral homes at make them aware of the Bugles Across America website . They can request a bugler on behalf of the family and coordinator for the BAA group will do the rest . Any thing that you can do would be appeciated .

Hers is the link to BAA : http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/


As a side note , last year my father past away . He was a 20 year veteran of The Air Force . He was in Vietnam from 1962 to 1968 . When the funeral home contacted the nearest Air Force base all they could provide was a simple color guard with 7 rifles for the 21 gun salute . They were AirForce personnel who voulnterred and got nothing extra to be in the color guard . NO BUGLER !!! . I had to do it .
I played taps for my father to honor his service . He deserved it . Please don't let others pass away without the same honor . Pass the word about BAA . Post information about on other forums that you know about . Get people to volunteer .

Thank you , Tommy Yandle .

[Lyle]

I saw a TV segment on this subject last year. I called several times to find someone responsible at the RI Veterans Cmemtry. I am retired, live 3 miles from the cemetery, & would love to volunteer to play Taps. I was told that they use the electronic bugle& they can't find stipend money for a real trumpet. I stated again, that I would volunteer, but the bureracracy seems to be KING. I have not yet been called even though I left my name.
It's hard to do something good.

[Alex F]

It's hard to do something good.

Lyle:

Here's the contact info for the RI Director of Bugles Across America. I think you will have more success there. You also might want to contact some of the local funeral directors in your area and tell them you are available.

State Director
Michael Jackson
(401) 782-6133
istrum4u@cox.net

[oldbandnerd]

Lyle , Contacting the fumeral homes is the best way to go . They make all the arrangements for the entire services . I doubt the good folks at the cemetery do anything other prepare the site and maintain it afterwards .

[BopEuph]

State Director
Michael Jackson
(401) 782-6133
istrum4u@cox.net

Wow, good ol' Mike gets his hand in everything musical, now doesn't he?

Nick

[Tom Mason]

My best efforts have been to contact the funeral home directly. I get to play maybe three or four times a year in my area.

Oddly enough, many families are arranging with the military for services, and not going through the funeral home. There have been times as well when the family or the funeral home will get a detail to do the service and get me as well. The detail always shows up with the tape, and are suprised that I am there.

Tom Mason

[iiipopes]

When my wife's grandfather died last year, for some reason the family did not have me play. Oh, well. The contingent that gave the honors did have one of the digital bugles. The person who used it was well practiced in the posture and execution, and I must say it was a lot better than I had anticipated, and certainly a lot better than a "recording." Of course, since I do play, I feel obligated to offer my services whenever. Of course I will register, and also let the forum know if you know of a funeral needing a bugler in southwest Missouri, please feel free to contact me.

[Shockwave]

I remember NPR did a piece on the electronic bugles and bugles across america. As I recall the problem was that they couldn't find enough military buglers, not buglers in general. They seemed to consider a soldier holding an electronic toy bugle better than an ordinary person playing a real one. Maybe I just got the wrong impression, but thats what I remember and I didn't like it.

-Eric

[Leland]

I remember NPR did a piece on the electronic bugles and bugles across america. As I recall the problem was that they couldn't find enough military buglers, not buglers in general. They seemed to consider a soldier holding an electronic toy bugle better than an ordinary person playing a real one. Maybe I just got the wrong impression, but thats what I remember and I didn't like it.

-Eric

Partly the wrong impression -- I'm sure that they would prefer an actual person rather than an electronic version. But, yes, they have had trouble simply finding people who could play and could hear about the funeral in time.

Naturally, it's impossible to schedule a burial very much in advance. Arlington, at least, is unique in that there's basically a waiting list -- the deceased gets put on a schedule for the next available spot. It's not a long wait, but it's still more time than the usual death-to-burial timespan.

But elsewhere, there's very little time for anyone to make the contacts needed to 1) find a bugler, 2) find a burial detail, and 3) let everyone involved know the plan. Thank goodness for Tom Day putting in an effort to make it easier for such arrangements to be made.

[EuphDad]

My father in law, a WWII Navy veteran died this summer.
The funeral home arranged to have a Navy color guard at the gravesite. We had to provide the funeral home with the appropriate social security and discharge information in order for the arrangments to made.

Two sailors in dress whites were waiting for us at the gravesite. They stood by the grave, folded and presented the flag to
my wife and read a brief statement from the President.

The sailors also had a boombox to play taps. But not wanting to have a recording played, my oldest son played The Navy Hymn at the begining of the service and Taps on his euphonium. While not a traditional bugle, the sound of the euphonium resonated throughout the Blue Hills. It was a moving moment and a beautiful tribute to his grandfather.

On a side note, the funeral director, the nephew of the funeral home owner, had been handling funerals for a few years and had attended many Military funerals. He told us afterwards that this was the first funeral that he attended where the music was played "live" and not recorded.

IMHO, live music, especially on a brass instrument, trumps a recording anyday.

We are also so grateful to the Navy for providing the color guard. Their presence added so much to the service. My father in law would have been proud.

EuphDad

[iiipopes]

That's great! I really had not ever thought of using an alternate instrument. But especially playing the Navy hymn, it sounds like a most dignified and fitting tribute. My compliments.

[oldbandnerd]

BUMP !!!


I liked to keep this at the top for a little bit longer . I hope no one minds .

[MichaelDenney]

On the subject of alternate instruments I have a bass trumpet for playing taps. It looks enough like a Bb trumpet to pass, and non-musicians (for which group I very nearly qualify myself) seem not to notice the octave difference. Perhaps its rotary valves distract everyone's attention from its size and pitch.

I know of a military bandsman who had to play taps on French horn when no one else was available...