OperationTaps
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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
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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.
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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.
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Why would he do that when all people would say is that he's narrating the narration?
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.
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OperationTaps.org
Progress 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.
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while travel expenses this summer are the talk of the town, I was not suggesting that anyone get paid to do it. It's just interesting to note that in the 1950's, the VFW often paid a small amount to the bugler.
I'm sure anyone now would do it gladly - gratis.
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.
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Congrats to Tom on what he is doing.
Keith, great idea, but I wonder if contacting the Legion and VFW is enough? Unfortunately, when a veteran dies, the Legion or VFW only get involved if asked to. This is usually only in the case of very active members or someone way too far away from a military contingent.
And Tom... jump in here if I mispeak... I certainly defer to your expertise...
My experience was that most funeral directors ask the family if the deceased was a Vet and whether or not they wish to request a military funeral. That was the case in my father's situation - even though he was a member of the VFW and Legion. The funeral director told us that he qualified for a full military funeral and that a contingent (military honor guard) would travel down to Oswego from Ft. Drum (10th mountain division) and perform the honors at no cost OR we could have the Legion or VFW. The prospects of having a full honor guard was too good to refuse... It was a most impressive funeral that my dad would have very much appreciated - you would think you were at Arlington. Then came taps... and we look over at the bugler and my 3 brothers and I see (pre the fake trumpet taps) the LT. going over to push the buttons on a boom box... we were so embarrassed and wanted to go over and stomp on it... any one of us could have done it or arranged for a bugler (ya think?)... a friggin boom box....
My point is... I talked this over with the funeral director and he said the only sure way to do this is if you get the information on buglers being available directly to the funeral directors... (as well as the VFW and Legion) Then, the system can work...
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.
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Tom,
Starting this school year (August) I am training my trumpet players for Taps. I am then sending out letters to all American Legions and VFW's in the area that we have buglers available for all veterans.
Thanks for the info
That's awesome Keith - great work!
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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.
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I am sorry if you read that into my post, that was not the intent.
Fair enough -
Plus, I don't think Rochester fans have had the chance to see CF - bring it.
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Cats, here's the bottom line for me.
Unlike sports -- Entertainment, whether it be drum corps, marching band, rock music, video games, a motion picture or whatever else -- should be judged on its effect on its audience. Not shock value, mind you, but its effect on the audience. If your band is marching at 300 miles an hour and playing the hardest music ever heard, and you score a perfect 100.00 at BOA ... but you put the audience asleep in the process -- you have failed to entertain. Which is the point of all of this.
Look, I've been subject to more personal attacks than pretty much anyone in DCA. I even got thrown out of a rudimental percussion Internet forum after my snare solo. People can continue the personal attacks and get Crunchy banned for the next 600 years ... but no one can change the fact that few, if any, I&E performances in the history of DCA or DCI entertained more people than Crunchy Frog 2004.
It didn't happen because anyone is a Genius ... it happened simply because Crunchy Frog tapped into our collective love for the drum and bugle activity, and entertained the performers and audience in an unprecedented fashion. Which was the whole -- and the only -- point.
If people want to run me out of Dodge -- go ahead. I will simply prove the point in Hollywood and other activities where people aren't so afraid of things outside of the comfort zone.
But be careful what you wish for. Nine hours of ratamacues might not be your cup of tea.
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.
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Most memorable for many reasons.....especially for bringing alumni, families and new members together for a fantastic summer experience. You will NOT be disappointed in this show!
The HYPE is for real!!
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)
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The Statesmen Alumni Committee has posted the All-Star Weekend letter and schedule on the website. If the office has your updated address or e-mail you will be receiving this very soon. If you have not been receiving the alumni news...please go to the website...www.statesmen.org and look at the home page. In the middle of the screen you will see JULY 4th Weekend Information. Click on this and read the letter and review the weekend schedule.
IMPORTANT FOR ALL ALL-STARS:
IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON PERFORMING AT THE JULY 5TH SHOW WE NEED YOU TO RSVP BY JUNE 15TH SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT. TO RSVP PLEASE CALL JIMMY STEELE AT 585-317-9389 OR CALL THE STATESMEN OFFICE (ASK FOR DARLENE) AT 585-266-2232.
We hope to have over 100 horns, 40 percussionists and 40 color guard for this ENCORE performance. Please make the trip to Rochester July 4th and 5th....it will be a weekend that everyone will remember.
Thanks,
Jimmy Steele - Brass Caption Head 2008 Alumni 91-99
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.
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I've played Taps many times over the years while in college and can honestly say it's the only job I've ever had where I knew if I did it right when people cried.
I prefer to play it in a lower key, starting on an F, all first valve. It keeps it from sounding too bright, and I have the added bonus of not worrying about cracking the high G.
In fact, I just played it last week at my father's funeral. Extremely difficult, yes, but there was absolutely no way I was going to let them use a tape. Kinda freaked the military reps out when the family refused the recording and told them we have our own bugler.
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.
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I just found this story in the Memorial Day edition of the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...ml?hpid=artslot
Excellent article. It was good to see the stats; 1800 a day, 657,000 per year, 500 active duty buglers ...
As drum corps people, we feel pretty guilty about not volunteering on Memorial Day. We need to remember that feeling all year.
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Does Taps have to be played on a trumpet/sop or can you play it on other instruments - like a trombone or baritone?
I've read that bugle, trumpet, coronet, flugel, mellophonium, or any valved instrument can be used, but Trombone and /or Sax should not (not sure where Bari fits).
As a Civilian Volunteer, I do not consider myself any kind of authority on the subject.
But here's a link to TapsBugler.com that addresses guidelines:
http://www.tapsbugler.com/TapsPerformanceG...PerfGuide3.html
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This is an amazing project, Tommy. TAPS has a very special meaning to many - especially this weekend.
Thanks Dave - Your foundation for your brother is quite an inspiration.
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In the Bicentennial year of 1976, the Sunrisers closed their show with "Stars and Stripes Forever" and threw in a bit of "Happy Birthday" during the finale. Great stuff.
Fran
1989 Empire Statesmen
America
Service Themes
Battle Hymn
Liberty Weekend
Vince Bruni AND Pepe Notaro at their best
Tank you very much
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www.OperationTaps.orgSince starting this project on Pearl Harbor Day 2007: OperationTaps participating units have performed at military honors funerals for:
106 Veterans for whom the only other option was to use a recorded version of Taps.
Also: "It Is The Soldier" printed with permission of Poet Charles Province of the Patton Society.
And, a listing of Memorial Day performances of OperationTaps particpating units and individuals.
THANK YOU to all members of the Drum Corps Community who have helped get this project off the ground!
But mostly: THANKS to those who have served.
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hey you never know.
almost camp time
Well, easy now.
He'd have a shot because of the most important thing: ATTENDANCE.
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Yeah.... something like that, or whatever other names come up along the way.
Well, if Ryan's willing to accept that as his new nickname, then he's a Project AND a Porkchop.
He's Project Porkchop
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Education. All aspects of competition would be a sub-heading of education. i.e.- learn how to win; learn how to lose; teamwork, dedication, pride, humility, etc.
Ultimately, it's all education, IMO.
What about the role of a drum corps as an asset to its community?
So maybe the choices shoud be :
Education, Competition, or Community Service
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I thought I saw my brother Tom's mouthpiece coming out of the back of his head when we turned the corner.
Donny
The human skull is no match for my desire to light up the Lilac Crowd.
The Lilac Parade audience is the Best Smelling Audience in the World.
From OperationTaps
in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions
Posted
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.