The sound of service
By Jessica Rodgers
Feb. 4, 2004 9:00 p.m.
At military funerals today, it’s not an unusual sight to
see a person playing “Taps” with a digital bugle, or to
hear a recording of the famous tune playing on a boom box.
Until 2001, only those affiliated with the military were
eligible to play “Taps” in these services. However, the
casualties suffered from the war in Iraq, combined with an aged
World War II and Korean War veteran population, resulted in an
increased demand for military services. Thus, President Bush
authorized able civilians to participate in the ceremonies so
“Taps” could be used as a musical tribute to late
veterans.
When four UCLA trumpeters played “Taps” live at a
memorial ceremony Jan. 22 at the Los Angeles National Cemetery near
campus, it marked the beginning of students doing something to
honor departed veterans through their music.
The ceremony was held in honor of the father of Dr. David
Carlisle, a former associate professor at the UCLA School of
Medicine. Carlisle’s father passed away four years ago.
Because he was a veteran, the Carlisle family held a military
memorial service to honor him.
Jens Lindemann, a UCLA music professor, volunteered four student
trumpeters to play “Taps” in an echo in honor of the
four years that had passed.
“Providing a bugle for any kind of a burial is one of the
most moving points in the service,” Lindemann said. “We
just started volunteering services this year, and we hope many more
families will take advantage of it.”
Every veteran is entitled to a full military funeral service,
which includes the presentation of the flag and the playing of
“Taps.” However, because of the difficulty of putting
together full services, a majority of families opt to have simpler
services.
The thought of veteran memorial services not having a live
bugler disturbed former military trumpeter Tom Day so much that he
formed a non-profit organization called Bugles Across America. The
organization is made up of trumpeters who are willing to volunteer
their services for military funerals so that a live bugle or
trumpet, which is a bugle with valves, can be used to honor the
dead.
Lindemann learned about Bugles Across America last year when he
read an article about the organization in Time magazine. Lindemann
was moved to put together a group of trumpeters who could pay
homage to deceased veterans in the Los Angeles area.
When he asked his trumpet students if they would be interested
in volunteering to play “Taps” in military funerals,
they all said they would be honored to do so, Lindemann said.
In recognition of what the students at UCLA are doing, Yamaha
has decided to donate an engraved trumpet to be used in these
services.
First-year trumpet performance student Max Hembd, whose
grandfather played in the military, was one of the four who played
in the Carlisle memorial service. Hembd has also played in other
services. He finds participating in these ceremonies to be a
rewarding experience that is both a privilege and a minimal time
commitment.
“The families really appreciated it,” Hembd said.
“They’ve offered to pay us, but the great thing about
it is that it’s a service ““ it’s being able to
provide something that not a lot of people have the opportunity to
do.”
Lindemann hopes that other schools in the Los Angeles area will
take up the challenge to become a part of the nationwide trend of
civilian volunteers playing in military services, as a way to pay
tribute to what the men and women have done for the country.
“It’s a musical testament to how they lived their
lives,” Lindemann said. “It literally becomes a musical
send-off to the dearly departed. “˜Taps’ is only 24
notes, but it’s 24 of the most haunting notes in musical
history.”
To find out more, visit www.BuglesAcrossAmerica.org, or
e-mail Professor Lindemann at [email protected].
