Thread: Taps at military funerals

It's been over a year and I have to confess that I have given up. The people involved with the Honor Guard at the local military cemetery seem to have no interest in anything but electronic bugles.

I don't agree with it but I feel that pressing it any further would be disrespectful. I did not serve in the military and neither my opinion nor my offer to play seemed to carry any weight at all.

Well, I'm sorry to hear this. Maybe the opportunity will present itself somewhere else in your life, your still young.

One thing for sure is, this road coming to a dead end, had nothing to do with you not being in the military. I have been dealing with them for the past year & a half on a few issues; no luck at all. They (the military) are set on a course that is guided by regulations/rules that are seldom based on the best option. It is doubtful that anyone you spoke to had the authority to change any of the regulations that effected you. Trying to help, volunteer or suggest options to them is like swimming against a rip-tide.

It simply comes down to the necessity of control.

I've found it very frustrating. If the bugler can be replaced with a recording, then when will the rifles be replaced? Couldn't the officiant be replaced by a video? Are they working on a way to automate the folding and presentation of the flag?

Sorry, I know I'm taking it too far and I've already expressed MY opinion about the fake bugle but I consider any shortcut to be completely disrespectful.

I have never seen one of those electronic bugles I'm glad to say!

A friend of mine's son has been playing the Last Post on bugle or trumpet for the local Remembrance/Armistice day here in Gloucestershire for quite a few years now. He recently moved to London but still comes back for the day as they can't find anyone else who can do it. He's about 28 now and has never served but always turns out. Perhaps an electronic bugle would save him the long trip!

I searched out your Taps on Youtube. It is quite similar to our Last Post but shorter and with less notes.



Gareth

Originally Posted by Galopede

I have never seen one of those electronic bugles I'm glad to say!

Well, with a flip of a switch, the bugle can play Last Post too, if someone would want that. I'm not sure why anyone would.

At my age, I have attended military funerals for veterans who served from WW1 onward.
Taps, executed soulfully, is my emotional release for the departure of acquaintances and friends. 'Would that it could become the salute to passage for all interments
~

A good friend of mine was a Vietnam war Navy fighter pilot. He loathed the idea of taps played as a recording or an electronic bugle. When he passed away he left specific instructions that if the military could not provide a real bugler, his family was to hire a real musician to play taps. When it came time the gentleman dressed in a suit and tie played taps that would have made him proud.

I also attended a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery where my wife's Great Uncle had his ashes interred. They had the horse drawn caisson with Navy Honor Guard including the 21 gun salute. His sister was to sick to attend the funeral so they asked me to video it for them. When it came time for taps (by a real bugler) I had to shut the camera off because the sound of taps and looking out on the sea of headstones was a little overwhelming.

When it is time I would ask my family to have a real bugler play taps even if it is not a military service member - anything else would be wrong.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Ron I'm in 100% agreement with you about having an actual person play Taps. Anything else is sub standard and doesn't show the respect that is deserved.

There are others who show the respect in other ways. Please forgive me if I've hijacked your thread with this video. It's several years old and I don't know if he is still doing this tribute but I thank him for doing it then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7j64VgM8-4

I was not quite prepared for the well of emotions that bell brought.

My opinion as a non-veteran, a recording of taps might be OK. Provided that it's a recording of a real musician played through a decent quality sound system. But the child's tinker-toy just shouldn't be a thing. There are better ways for that to be handled, IMO. Personally I'd rather have someone that couldn't play the bugle to save their life try and butcher it, than have the faux bugle.

It's a shame they didn't (or couldn't) take you up on your offer Utopian.

Buried an uncle a few years ago, WWII Navy veteran, small town and the local VFW did the honors with an electronic bugle. Disgusting. I can't really blame anyone with the current lack of talent, honor or commitment that has taken over America.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, with a flip of a switch, the bugle can play Last Post too, if someone would want that. I'm not sure why anyone would.

I couldn't even watch the video. It made me sick!