Thread: Taps at military funerals

When taps is played at a military funeral, it can be played on a real bugle or trumpet, or it can be "played" on a ceremonial bugle, which contains an electronic device with a speaker that emits a recorded version of taps. Yesterday I ended up hearing the ceremonial bugle and I did not like it. As a trumpet player who has played taps at memorial services and funerals, I realize that I am biased so I would like the opinions of others.

I would appreciate it if any veterans, or family members of veterans, would share their opinions about live versus recorded taps at funerals.

Thank you in advance.

I have work in the past with a funeral home and we handled a lot of military funerals. I agree that the recorded version is not the best but I have seen taps butchered by a bugle player also so there are trade offs.

I think it is tragic that a recording is being used at all. However, the reality seems to be there are fewer and fewer buglers or even trumpeters that are willing/able to play at an increasing number of military funerals. Solution, I don't know. The "electronic bugle" simply doesn't have the fidelity for good sound reproduction.

No "Taps" at my wake, thanks. I would however tolerate a 21 gun salute with 5"/38 naval guns

It seems particularly disingenuous to project the music from a mock bugle. Much less offensive to simply have a recorded version played.

BTW- Lucy says Hello.

I'm sorry to hear that such a thing is done yet it doesn't surprise me. Playing a digital toy at a funeral seems especially loathsome.

OT, I live in a pretty small town which has a Memorial Day parade. You can be watching as a little Cub scout troop pull their 'float' which they made to look like a submarine or something. Then, possibly the Corgi club with 10 members and their short legged dugs. Then toot toot BAM a Latin American dance group that follows a pick-up truck with ear shattering canned music.
The dance group would be fine if they had a flute and drum band with them.

I'm not a Veteran, was rejected by Army, Navy and Marines in 1968 due to bad lungs and have noticed over the years Veterans getting less & less respect, they deserve much better treatment than they are getting. Now this.....enough said!

Sad truth is there are more veterans dying than there are buglers/trumpet guys available, I ride escort for the Patriot riders at the veterans cemetery here and with all that was going on in the Middle East plus with all of us Veitnam guys hitting an age that we are passing on, it's keeping them busy plus it's all volunteer work, unless your in Arlington. Tc

For our newly opened national Veterans cemetery we are lucky to have a couple of local VFW guys who do an excellent taps. For Air Force funerals the Air Force sends an active duty trumpeter from a base about 70 miles away.

Canned taps just does not cut it solely out of respect for the deceased Soldier. Our KIA's were not in a hollywood movie when they died for us.

TC thanks for riding with the Patriot's.

I know I said "enough said" in earlier post but I can't help myself as the treatment Veterans are receiving hits a sore spot with me. My father was a WWII Veteran, I wear his dog tags today to honor him and all Veterans, it's called respect and playing recorded TAPS at a Veteran's funeral is, IMHO....disrespectful! Now I'll shut up.

I was recently at a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery in the Old Chapel, where TAPS was played (apparently) by a bugler in uniform. As it turned out, it was an electronic device inserted in the instrument, which explained what it was so perfect. Had I not been standing next to him, I would have never known. Not to be argumentative, but it is the honor being bestowed, not the instrument that is important.