Bugles Across America

From Drum Corps International:

After 37 months of existence, “Bugles Across America,” a program designed to provide a live musician playing taps at every American veteran’s funeral, almost 3,700 musicians have played at more than 37,000 military funerals around the country, according to founder Tom Day.


Day founded “Bugles Across America” in 2001 after a 2000 Congressional mandate stated that every veteran funeral include full military honors. The mandate didn’t take into account the shortage of military buglers (there are less than 500 in the Defense Department, and most of them are assigned to performing ensembles), which forced families to employ boom boxes to play recorded versions of taps at funerals.


DCI.org’s Mike Boo stressed the importance of Bugles Across America. “I’d be remiss if the opportunity wasn’t seized to once again promote an organization of phenomenal worthiness, Bugles Across America. If you are a bugle and/or trumpet player, please, please, please go on their Web site and sign up to be available to perform “Taps” at the funeral of a veteran.


“There is still a critical shortage of bugle players for military funerals, forcing the military to use boom box recordings and digital bugles for “Taps.” There have got to be lots of potential “Taps” players among DCI alumni and fans,” Boo said.

If you are able, please sign up. Our nations veterens deserve full military honors at their funerals.