OperationTaps

For those of you who are part of Bugles Across America... make sure your contact information is up to date. Again thanks to all the horn players in the drum corps community who have volunteered in any way. As many of you may have noticed, it isn't much of an inconvenience, and you most likely won't be contacted all that often, but the tradition of having a fellow American play Taps for a fallen soldier goes back to the Civil War. Our generation has to keep it going, and tell the next batch of young horn players what it means. But mostly, Thank You Veterans.

Not only do I want to wish Jeff a Happy Birthday.... I also want to congratulate him for just completing a season where he marched the toughest drill in Empire Statesmen history.... And I also want to thank him - especially on this Veterans Day weekend - for spearheading a local network of brass players that performs Taps at over 100 military honors funeral services a year. Tom Allen Rochester, NY

OperationTaps.org Progress Report 9/28/08 Since starting this project on Pearl Harbor Day 2007: OperationTaps participating units have performed at military honors funerals for: 162 Veterans for whom the only other option was to use a recorded version of Taps. Also: New informative links suggested by the legendary Taps Bugler: Jari Villanueva, Director, Maryland National Guard Honor Guard - Veterans Affairs, Military Department Thanks to all who have been involved.

OperationTaps.org Progress Report 8/28/08 Since starting this project on Pearl Harbor Day 2007: OperationTaps participating units have performed at military honors funerals for: 154 Veterans for whom the only other option was to use a recorded version of Taps. Special thanks to: Drum Corps Associates member organizations who have contributed to this (ongoing) project: - Empire Statesmen - Erie Thunderbirds - Mighty St. Joe's - Prime Time Brass - Ghost Riders - Rochester Crusaders - Manchester,NH Muchachos - Amoskeag, NH Sound Remember: Every day is Memorial Day for 1500 - 1800 families around the country.

The one area where I WILL give George Hopkins credit is that he isn't complaining about the corps placement, he's just not very happy about his kids getting booed. I can respect that. Personally, I find the narration distracting, but my ears are shot from years of Dr. Beat abuse. He wants to expand the possibilities of the actvity. That's fine. Just remember, when SCV did an asymmetrical drill (the horror!) in 1980, they came in 7th. They did okay the next year. If the day comes when everyone is doing what The Cadets are doing, then that would be "expanding the activity." If that day nevers comes, he may need to consider community theatre.

OperationTaps.orgProgress Report 7/13/08 Since starting this project on Pearl Harbor Day 2007: OperationTaps participating units have performed at military honors funerals for: 131 Veterans for whom the only other option was to use a recorded version of Taps. Also: Last weekend an old friend asked: "What does it mean to be part of OperationTaps?" Check the site for my answer. And as always, thanks to all who have participated.

Tom, your experience is similar to a lot of drum corps people. We all remember playing Taps when we were kids in drum corps, but the activity has changed so much that we just don't have the local presence on a community by community basis. I will say that most of the All Age groups I've mentioned this to have been very supportive and, like me, realize that we can all do a little more even it's one Taps performance a year.

You are correct. The family is informed of their eligibility, and the appropriate military officials are contacted. In our area it's Fort Drum. Then Fort Drum contacts local Reservist units. Rarely do they have a live bugler available, so they bring the Electronic Device (ugh). I may have this quote somewhere on the web site, but at one service the Reservists told me "The only way to guarantee a live bugler is if they have a friend of the family willing to do it." My belief is that anyone who ever supported us in the drum corps community should consider US a friend of the family. Too often the family has no idea until the end of the funeral service if they are going to have a live bugler or not. That's where the disconnect is. Interestingly, the young man running for US Congress in our district (NY26th) is an Iraq Vet who is strongly committed to veterans issues. He is also the brother of the young man marrying my niece - which is close enough for me to call him "My Nephew the Congressman." His name is Jon Powers, he came back from Iraq after leading the unit that took over Udai Hussein's Palace. When he got back he started a non-profit that sends toys and suppiles to orphanages in Bahgdad - a pretty honorable endeavor. He had no idea that his potential district had more participating "buglers" than anywhere in the country (the district runs from Amherst through Batavia to Rochester's western suburbs) - he can really lead the charge on this issue. I've proposed to him that, just like the DOD changed the rule to allow ALL vets the right to a military honors fumeral, the DOD should also rule that funeral directors be required to inform families that they might not get a live bugler and that they are free to contact a qualified civilian volunteer. Tom, your father's story is all too common. I hear all the time from people who say "I wish I would have known, we could have called you." And even if I couldn't have done it personally we all know hundreds, maybe thousands of qualified buglers.

That's awesome Keith - great work!

www.OperationTaps.org Updates and News: 6/20/08 Since starting this project on Pearl Harbor Day 2007: OperationTaps participating units have performed at military honors funerals for: 123 Veterans for whom the only other option was to use a recorded version of Taps. Remember: Every day is Memorial Day for 1500 - 1800 families around the country. According to the US Dept of Veteran Affairs: 23.8 Million living US Vets Average age of WWII Vets: 84 Average age of Korean War Vets: 76 Average age of Vietnam Vets: 60 It is estimated that there will be 686,000 deaths of veterans eligible for a full Military Honors Funeral this year. Active Military Buglers: 500 Operation Taps is dedicated to encouraging civilian brass players and marching music organizations to proactively make themselves available to honor our nation's military heroes. Thank you to all who have participated.

Fair enough - Plus, I don't think Rochester fans have had the chance to see CF - bring it.

Look Lee, we get it. If you want to have a little "Crunchy Frog against DCA" fun, then plenty of us will gladly play along. But don't disparage any other participants. Some of us remember when it was Vince Bruni and Pepe Notaro bringing a bus load of Empire kids and Minnesota Brass bringing their buses or this wouldn't have gotten off the ground in the first place. All of DCA should be proud that I&E has become the single most fun evening in the activity.

Boy, you guys sure know how to put pressure on yourselves (how old-school Statesmen of you). But, without exaggerating, I will say that the July 5th show will be, quite possibly, The Most Important Evening of Drum Corps in Rochester History. I personally know people who be crying their eyes out when they see THOSE faces side-by-side playing THOSE songs. (.... please don't rain)

And ... anyone out there who knows an Empire alumnus, please tell them about these links. We can't locate EVERYBODY and at least twice a week I run into someone who aks, "Why wasn't I given an invitation to the alumni stuff?" It's totally because we can't find everybody... but yes ANY and EVERY former Statesmen is invited to ALL of these events. Even if you just want to come to the parties ... it would be great to see you.

Playing for your own father has to be the toughest. Bravo Loud Lancer. We were blessed to have dear friend David Seeley (Empire, Brigs, Cru) play for our father.