Ben, I thought this article would be of interest to you all. It is
from my latest UCLA Alumni Magazine:
When the visiting music professor Jens Lindemann, international trumpet
soloist , heard of frustrated families of veterans being unable to find
buglers to play "Taps" at the funerals of loved ones, he was appalled.
"I have no military history," Lindemann says, "But as a
performing artist, I find it insulting that there's no live body around
to do this. Is this the best we can do for veterans and their
families? "
In the past buglers were provided by the military. But in 2000
legislations was passed to allow "Taps" to be played on a CD because of
the scarcity of horn players. "There are even fake bugles," he says
disgustedly, "that have a a recording of "Taps."
The blow to tradition motivated Tom Day, a former military
trumpeter, to form "Bugles Across America," a Chicago-based nonprofit
organization of 2,050 volunteer horn players willing to play "Taps" at
veterans' funerals. After talking to his 10 UCLA trumpet students
about volunteering, Lindemann and his corps of Bruins joined Day's
group. Yamaha Corporation of America is donating a specially engraved
trumpet to be used for the funerals. Lindemann is planning to ask
other horn players in the UCLA Bruin Marching Band and at other
universities to volunteer.. One of them said, "I consider it a great
honor to be among the many tumpeters who have responded to this
wonderful cause. Veterans have put their lives on the line and need to
be honored with a military funeral. The playing of "Taps" is just as
significant as the presentation of the flag to a family member or a
21-gun salute."
For more information go to:
www.buglesacrossamerica.orgFrom Virginia Jorgen