  The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 240 Registered: 10-2007 |
I recently went to my father-in-laws funeral. He was 84 years old and full of fun. He was a Navy veteran of WW2. There were fellow naval officers there as well. There was a 10 gun salute and there was an ensign with a bugle who was standing outside of the mausoleum. Anyway, when we heard taps being played we all thought that this was a great send-off for Dad until we discovered the 'navy guys' were playing a cassette tape of "taps". I thought that was kinda bodacious, impersonal and cheap. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 1220 Registered: 11-2003 |
o ok | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 2118 Registered: 11-2006 |
I read or saw something last year - there are not enough people to play taps anymore - an off side tid bit - the man who played taps at Ford's funeral was from EMU.....Woody, and that is all I can remember. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 245 Registered: 10-2007 |
No really, you'd think that someone could have played the damn tune for real. My wife thought it was disrespectful. Is that a form of lip-syncing or just no talent? | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 2122 Registered: 11-2006 |
Dear Ed, I am just saying - I don't disagree with you - here are my cut and paste efforts...my dad was a WWII vet The armed forces have 500 buglers able to play taps, but 1,800 veterans are dying per day. Only live buglers play the Arlington National Cemetery, the nation's premier burial ground for veterans, but honor guards at other cemeteries have had to scrape to find one. The fake bugle has been used more often than the real one in the nearly 38,000 military funerals so far this year — more than half are still relying on the boom box. Military services have purchased about 4,000 bugles, said Mark Ward, the Pentagon's senior policy adviser for military funeral honors. Sometimes the families know and sometimes they don't. "A lot of times when using the ceremonial bugler, we'll tell them beforehand so we don't give the feeling we are being disingenuous," Ward said. Still, some people are determined to get a live bugler at veterans' funerals. Tom Day of Berwyn, Ill., founded Bugles Across America to recruit civilian musicians to play taps at funerals. "I saw too many boom boxes going bad, and too many reserve units and guard units not even bringing anything," Day said. He's gathered 3,000 volunteers ages 10 to 97 who have performed at 36,000 funerals in the last three years — including 80% of the funerals from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Day said even a good recorded version sounds like it's coming out of a tin can, and cemetery workers have told him some of the ceremonial buglers don't even hold the instrument to their face. "They should at least teach these guys how to fake it," he said. "I want 'Taps' played with emotion. It's played with emotion when it's a real hornblower, it's on their lips and played correctly." | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1840 Registered: 12-2005 |
The honor guard at my Uncle's funeral three years ago played taps (for real) on a trumpet. It was beautifully rendered and their tradition and ceremony meant much to my aunt and cousins and our family. My Father and his two brothers all served in WWII. | ||
Ltdave Member Username: Ltdave Post Number: 96 Registered: 09-2006 |
the allied veterans council in port huron has 2 bugelers i think. its pretty difficult to get people who even play the bugle or trumpet let alone get a good number of them... i was on the Honor Guard for 3 years when i was in the Air Force (base level) that covered from Sacramento California to Eugene Oregon from the coast to Susanville Nevada. we had 2 guys who could blow taps... i did 13 full honors funerals and over 43 partials or flag-folders in about a 10 month time frame 86-87... that didnt include the opening of the Cal State Expo, parades for memorial day, labor day, 4th of july, veterans day and other sundry holidays. there just isnt the manpower... on a side note, im sorry for your loss. ive got an uncle and my dad both vets who wont be long for this earth... d | ||
Esp Member Username: Esp Post Number: 101 Registered: 09-2005 |
"Taps", has got to be the easiest song to play ... ever. It's three notes. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 1471 Registered: 01-2006 |
Actually four, I think. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 3560 Registered: 12-2005 |
I'll back up Carolcb's claims. I recall a similar story. They simply don't have enough buglers for the job. | ||
Mama_jackson Member Username: Mama_jackson Post Number: 245 Registered: 06-2006 |
My son is stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and in the area there are at least two military cemetaries. When he first arrived and didn't have his regular work set up yet, they put him on funeral duty. He had to play taps. The bugle has a recording of Taps in the end of it, and the box fell out of the front of the bugle. He carried on as if he was playing it anyway. He must have been pretty convincing, because they all were congratulated by the relatives for such a lovely rendition of Taps and the whole ceremony. He said they had a hard time keeping it under control, they wanted to burst out laughing because the sound was on the ground. | ||
Iaintgotnostyle Member Username: Iaintgotnostyle Post Number: 48 Registered: 10-2007 |
I think you are carrying this a bit to far. Isn't it enough that so many turned out to show their love and support? Why don;t you look at it in a positive light and believe they played a tape so that they would not mess up your grand pa's last and final and not too mention utmost important party that he will ever have again., Damn, do people bitch about eery little thing? Take it for what it was, a beautiful and caring final send off for the old guy from a group of loved ones , friends and fellow vets damn | ||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 268 Registered: 01-2007 |
IAintGotNoStyle... That is for sure. Ed... Sorry for your family's loss. But truth be told, the number of WWII era vets dying daily is overwhelming the supply of buglers. That the military sends anyone is at least a measure of respect for your Father-in-Law's service to our country. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1727 Registered: 08-2006 |
When my X wife's dad passed; one guy showed up and placed a flag on the coffin, and thanked him for his service. No Taps. | ||
Ladyinabag Member Username: Ladyinabag Post Number: 326 Registered: 03-2007 |
Al you need for taps is a trumpet player. Contact The Detroit Federation of Musicians at, 248-569-5400. | ||
Bigcab Member Username: Bigcab Post Number: 5 Registered: 08-2006 |
http://www.ceremonialbugle.com /Products.htm | ||
99gprix Member Username: 99gprix Post Number: 24 Registered: 01-2007 |
I know I don't post a whole lot on here, but on Friday, the 19th, my father passed away. He was only 57. Long time employee of Michcon, and owned a flowershop in Richmond, Mi. After the pastor was done speaking, he was sent off with the Michigan Marching bands "Hail to the Victors" That has got to be the hardest it has ever been to listen to that song. In a way, it's going to be real hard from now on to listen to that, but then again, it will always remind me of how true of a fan he was. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 307 Registered: 10-2007 |
Sorry for your family's loss. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1078 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sorry about your loss 99gprix, I have similar issues with Danny Boy for the same reason. Regarding taps, my nephew is an Eagle Scout. He has played taps at two or three of our friends funerals. Tough duty but very memorable. | ||
Karl_jr Member Username: Karl_jr Post Number: 142 Registered: 06-2007 |
Danny boy does me in too, sorry for your loss 99prix. (Message edited by karl jr. on October 25, 2007) | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 255 Registered: 08-2007 |
Louis Armstrong's version "What a Wonderful World" turns me into a puddle. Irish, thank your nephew for every Vet who's buried a brother, a father, a friend. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1301 Registered: 10-2003 |
taps, while only four notes, is actually pretty difficult to play on a trumpet. there are some notes that are quite high up there and you need the skill to reach them. i'm sorry for you loss ed and i completely understand where you are coming from. i agree that it is much more respectful to have a live person playing than a recording. every year for memorial day the high school i went to provided the top two trumpet players of the band (of which i was one) to go to every cemetary in the area and play taps for the local VFW chapters. after the morning was over we always got to sit down to a great pancake breakfast with the vets. the tradition of having students play was fairly recent and they always commented on how appreciative they were that we came to do that for them. it was much more ceremonial and personal, rather than someone just sticking in a tape and "going thru the motions." to a point, it almost recreated the pomp and circumstance of a traditional military burial that used to be provided for all, not just higher ranking officials or particular locations (the equal respect aspect). just my $.02 | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 352 Registered: 10-2007 |
Rsa - Thankew for that. | ||
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm Post Number: 1478 Registered: 02-2005 |
99gprix, sorry to hear about your father. I retired from MichCon in 1999 after 30+ years there. | ||
99gprix Member Username: 99gprix Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks everybody. My dad at MichCon was in charge of Damage Prevention, and was a board member of MissDig. I think he was there 30+ also. After my parents moved to Richmond, they transfered him to Allen Park, which was just too far of a drive for him. He decided to retire, and had plans in a couple of years to move down to North Carolina.  I still don't think it has hit me yet, but it will. There is no person in this world I could have been more proud of. Best dad in the world. | ||
The_ed Member Username: The_ed Post Number: 418 Registered: 10-2007 |
Sorry to hear about your Dad. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 275 Registered: 08-2007 |
99gprix: I'm sorry for your loss, below is a poem I read at my Dad's funeral, hope it helps. --- If I should ever leave you whom I love To go along the Silent Way, grieve not, Nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk Of me as if I were beside you there. (I'd come-I'd come, could I but find a way! But would not tears and grief be barriers?) And when you hear a song or see a bird I loved Please do not let the thought of me Be sad For I am loving you just as I always have, You were so good, to me. There are so many things I wanted still To do - so many things to say to you. Remember that I did not fear. It was just leaving you that was so hard to face. We cannot see Beyond.. But this I know: I loved you so - 'twas heaven here with you! | ||
99gprix Member Username: 99gprix Post Number: 26 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks, Gnome. That brought a smile to my face early this morning. Thanks The_Ed. Thank you everybody. One day, I would like to come to a meet with all of ya, and with my work schedule, that makes it darn near impossible. One day though. | ||
Mauser765 Member Username: Mauser765 Post Number: 2025 Registered: 01-2004 |
sorry bout your dad. The taps are played using an artificial bugle that has a digital recording in it. I see those all the time at firefighter ceremonies and such. The color guard that came to my fathers uncles funeral also had the digital bugle. No, not the same as a real bugle, but its what everybody uses now. |
