I don’t know how I missed the fact that the armed services increasingly use fake buglers at military funerals, but I just learned about it the hard way.
Our neighbor, a navy veteran who died unexpectedly leaving his wife and small daughter, received a military burial in Quantico, Virginia. The uniformed bugler raised his instrument to his lips (out of my sight, but I saw him with his bugle on the way to the site), and the mournful sound of TAPS began, only to end abruptly halfway through the melody. There was an awful, awkward silence as the mourners wondered what happened and if the tune would be completed, and then the sailor put away his bugle into a case, and walked over to fold the flag on the coffin.
Because of budget cuts (which, of course, could have been applied elsewhere, for this is a choice) and a shortage of buglers, most military funerals employ non-musicians who hold a fake bugle with a chip and a speaker installed to give the illusion that TAPS is being performed.
In other words, it is a subterfuge and a lie.
I discussed what was wrong with such fake live performances in 2009, and again in 2013, when I beat this topic to death, even going on Bill O’Reilly’s show to talk about Beyoncé lip-synching at the Inauguration as the newscasters lied about it being a live performance. The key quote from both posts is this..,
“The performance was part of the swearing-in ceremony of President Barack Obama, and that meant that it could not, should not, must not be phony, faked, or a lie.”
Whether you think that similar fakery is more or less excusable when the nation says good-bye and thanks to a deceased veteran is a matter of priorities. Both are unethical, both represent creeping corruption and a betrayal of values. This was a Navy service; here’s the relevant provision of the Navy Ethics Compass:
“HONOR”
I am accountable for my professional and personal behavior. I will be mindful of the privilege I have to serve my fellow Americans. I will:
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Abide by an uncompromising code of integrity, taking full responsibility for my actions and keeping my word.
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Conduct myself in the highest ethical manner in relationships with seniors, peers and subordinates.
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Be honest and truthful in my dealings within and outside the Department of the Navy.
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Make honest recommendations to my seniors and peers and seek honest recommendations from junior personnel.
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Encourage new ideas and deliver bad news forthrightly.
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Fulfill my legal and ethical responsibilities in my public and personal life.
As I read this, the practice of trying to fool the assembled at a Navy veteran’s funeral that he is receiving a live performance of TAPS rather than a fake one is a breach of integrity, does not embody the “highest ethical manner,” is neither honest nor truthful, does not meet the serviceman’s ethical responsibilities.
As for bad news, nobody told us, nor his widow, “I’m sorry, but we don’t have a real bugler, so this young man is going to pretend to play while he holds this disguised speaker up to his lips.”
If the military believes service in the armed forces in protection of the nation is only worth a cheap recording and a charade, it should be clear and transparent about it. The current practice is a violation of core military values, and a breach of honor, as well as an insult to the families of the deceased veterans.
Ethics Alarms 
At my father’s graveside service in July, we also had a fake bugler. However, the family thoroughly appreciated the respect and dignity with which the young Army men conducted themselves. (The funeral director had told us how taps is generally “played” now, so it was no surprise). The young soldiers were also very compassionate — and it certainly seemed sincere. My 89 year old mother was grateful that the military “even sent someone” as my Dad entered the army near the end of the war and never left the States. So, ethically, yes they should be transparent. But, again ethically, it seems more important to me that they were dignified, respectful, and compassionate. While in high school, I played taps at many graveside services attended by military, National Guard, American Legion. The dearth of buglers is not new. Just sayin’, Jack b
That’s helpful perspective. Of course, the bugler shortage could be addressed in many ways, if the military deemed it sufficiently important. Would a live civilian musician be preferable to a uniformed non-musician? I’d say so.
My thought as I’m reading this thread, (as my son, a sophomore in high school, is practicing his viola for a concert tonight) is “uh, retired veterans, Boy Scouts or heck, high school band students as part of their community service?”. Teach bugle in school and make it an honor, and a teaching moment, to play at the graveside service of a veteran. For Pete’s sake, there have got to be better options than faking it!
Yep. Though I can understand a lot of the symbolism and history of a soldier playing taps, on final shakedown, it isn’t the Military saying goodbye to it’s departed Warriors, it is the NATION saying goodbye to it’s departed Warriors.
Yes.
In hindsight, though, the phoniness of lip-synching at the inauguration and the media lying about it was the perfect omen for what was to come.
Yup.
I’m am absolutely appalled!
As a Veteran, I cannot contain my anger over this practice.
I’m signing off for the day.
Don’t shoot the messenger!
I didn’t want to share that Infantry Instructor part of me that I suppressed many years ago after leaving the Army; it was a far, far better thing to do to walk away in this case until I cooled down.
I’ve been to countless military funerals all over the United States and not one of them has ever had a fake bugler; how do I know this to be true, I played trumpet for a long time and I have personally spoken with each and every bugler to personally thank them for their service and to thank them for their participation in the ceremony.
I cannot understand the logic behind such callous disrespect for those that have served. There are some things in life that must be done because it’s the right thing to do regardless of the cost. There is no justifiable excuse for this, none.
Thank you.
My Dad’s Arlington funeral had TWO buglers who played together. Was this because he had full military honors as a Silver and Bronze Star recipient? It better not be that. What, the outstanding soldiers get real respect, and the ones who similarly risked their lives or served in other ways get diminishing versions of the one constant, until it’s a 2 supersoaker salute and a short version of TAPS played on a fake kazoo?
Arlington is a very special place for me, I’m honored to visit there and pay my respects to all that rest there. Since I have walked down literally every row I can in the Cemetery, it’s very likely that I have walked in honor past your father’s resting place unless the funeral was within the last 16 months. I go alone, rain – snow – shine, every couple of years when I visit family in Fairfax, it’s a very personal thing for me.
I’ve been to three funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and seen a number of other funerals while paying my respects at Arlington during visits, I never recall there ever being two buglers for any funeral. Heck there wasn’t even duet buglers for Kennedy’s funeral at Arlington. I suppose for an extra fee, they could easily duet the buglers.
We were surprised. I had forgotten, and my wife reminded me just the other day. I honestly don’t recall myself…it was a traumatic. day. Maybe one was an apprentice. Maybe one was an understudy. You’re right: that’s not standard.
Were they playing together or was it like a call and repeat? If it was the second then that’s called Echo taps and Im surprised it was played at your fathers funeral as it is not authorized by the Army.
And as to your father not deserving more then other soldiers I understand your feelings, hell from what you’ve said your father played down his service his entire life and didn’t boast or see it or himself as special, but you know and I know what he did was special and he deserved every honor they could give to him and more.
To be fair, they have the fact that the bugler is recorded right there on their website:
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2000 directed the playing of Taps at veteran’s military funerals. Although a live bugler is preferred, a quality-recorded version may be used. To address the issue and provide a more dignified alternative to a compact disk (CD) player, DoD turned to technology resulting in the development of the Ceremonial Bugle. An electronic device fits directly inside the bell portion of a bugle and contains a recording of Taps as performed during an actual ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. The participating Service member holds the bugle normally while the recording plays presenting an image not unlike an actual bugler performing Taps.
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/mfh/getLinks.do?tab=Bugle
Apparently they were using boom boxes before then? It seems people like the fake musician better. But at any rate, it isn’t a lie.
Read by exactly one person in this nation.
That’s not a defense.
Well, two now, and whoever else reads the post, and I presume Congress and the President…but then again, we can’t trust them to read the legislation they propose, pass and sign anymore.
(and it’s still not a defense)
It is a lie if it is not disclosed at the time. They lead you to believe it is a live bugler, even if you might know (had you known to go to the website) that a stand-in might be used. I have no problem with it if fully disclosed; this, however, is a lie of omission.
That said, I’d rather the Dept of Defense spend its resources on its military programs than training buglers. When I was younger, I marched for the local fire department in full dress uniform; perhaps it would be better if the DoD hired high school trumpet players to play taps. If there’s a shortage in the military itself, there’s always at least five trumpet players in every high school who can competently play Taps. Dress them up in a uniform (that doesn’t lie about rank or actual service) and voila. Problem solved. Plus, you keep actual soldiers and sailors in service, rather than ceremonial, roles.
Bingo, Jay.
Gah! I missed Jay’s response as I was replying.
Stating that its a fake doesn’t change the fact that it’s fake, and fake is a lie. Were all the funeral attendees directed to the website? Was the widow? Are we on notice that we have to check the websites of every organization to make sure what they are doing isn’t subterfuge? If somewhere there’s a website admitting all of Hillary’s lies, does it mean she isn’t lying? Moreover, saying that a recording may be used doesn’t say when it IS used.
I like your theory, Hillary can now have a campaign website that says, “While truthful statements are preferred, the candidate MAY lie her head off.”
The attendees have a right to know without waiting for the recording to fail.
Stating that its a fake doesn’t change the fact that it’s fake, and fake is a lie.
So anytime someone uses recorded music, it’s a lie? This has been the policy since at least 2003, and before then they used CDs. It’s mostly just a stylistic difference to me. If people care that much, they can see what the proceedings are for themselves, but generally speaking, the military doesn’t send out a representative to explain how things are going to go to families. I have been to a handful of family military funerals, and we did not interact with the military at all, except when they presented the flag. The funeral director took care of all the details beforehand, so that was a failure on your neighbor’s funeral director’s part. At what point in the proceeding should they say something, never having interacted with the family until the proceedings begin? Do they loudly announce it right before they begin to play?
I don’t think it is a lie. It may be cheap, it may be chintzy, it may reflect exactly how much we value our veterans, but it isn’t a lie.
We’re off as a family to look at lights, but I’ll be on later to play “let’s count the rationalizations”.
I always love when you post that you are going to post at some time in the future. We will all be waiting around with bated breath, I’m sure.
Simmer down the emotion, I’m sure you had other things you could focus on other than being seized with rapt excitement.
“So anytime someone uses recorded music, it’s a lie?”
That’s actually not what was asserted. What was asserted is that the open display of a man “playing a bugle” who is NOT playing a bugle, communicates that you do, indeed have a live ‘bugling’. That it is not a live bugling when communicated that it is, is a lie.
It’s about disclosure.
“This has been the policy since at least 2003,
#43, We’ve Never Had a Problem With it OR #44, It’s not the first time
Though I’d like to also call it a #5, Compliance Dodge, since it would seem that the policy itself encourages unethical conduct, then saying it’s in compliance with the law doesn’t count as a rationalization. Or maybe it does, since if there were ample disclosure beforehand, it would seem the policy would be ok.
“and before then they used CDs.”
#22, There Are Worse Things
“It’s mostly just a stylistic difference to me.”
#42, If He Doesn’t Care, Why Shouldn’t Anyone else?
“If people care that much, they can see what the proceedings are for themselves, but generally speaking, the military doesn’t send out a representative to explain how things are going to go to families. I have been to a handful of family military funerals, and we did not interact with the military at all, except when they presented the flag.”
Maybe a #36, Victim Blindness…
Or more likely a #10, What they Don’t Know won’t Hurt Them.
“The funeral director took care of all the details beforehand, so that was a failure on your neighbor’s funeral director’s part.”
I’m sure “It’s someone else’s fault” is a rationalization somewhere.
“At what point in the proceeding should they say something, never having interacted with the family until the proceedings begin? Do they loudly announce it right before they begin to play?”
Beforehand, I would guess… but of course, as you alluded, at least someone who can communicate to the family ought be informed.
“I don’t think it is a lie.”
Jack already solidly demonstrated that it is.
“It may be cheap, it may be chintzy, it may reflect exactly how much we value our veterans, but it isn’t a lie.”
And I think that’s a deflection.
I mean, come on. Why is a soldier holding something that looks like a bugle and pretending to play it if the objective isn’t to make people who don’t know its not a real bugle and it isn’t really being played think otherwise? That is conduct with an intention to deceive…a lie.
So back to the boom box then?
If it’s a boom box, let everyone know it’s a boom box. If it looks like a bugler, it damn well better be a bugler. How hard is that? I think our dead veterans deserve a bugle and a live TAPS, but if that’s not possible, the veterans deserve a genuine ceremony, not fakery, short cuts, and make-believe.
Or ANY OF THE OTHER ETHICAL and GOOD options that people have mentioned here that I KNOW you read, even though you are pretending like you didn’t.
Why do you play obtuse games?
A local police agency uses one of these awful “digital bugles” in their Honor Guard. Their rationalization: “Well the military is doing it, so…” Interestingly, other songs can be programmed into the unit, so if you wanted some Trumpet Voluntary, that’s doable, too. Coming soon, I’m sure: digital bagpipes.
Jack,
Apparently a private, non-profit organization called “Bugles Across America” was founded almost immediately after to combat the fraud. According to their website:
“Bugles Across America, NFP was founded in 2000 by Tom Day, when Congress passed legislation stating that Veterans have a right to at least two uniformed military people to fold the flag and play Taps on a CD player. Bugles Across America was founded to take this a step further. In recognition of the service these Veterans have provided to their country, we felt that they each deserve a live rendition of Taps played by a live bugler. To this end, we are actively seeking capable volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families. ”
I have always been equally disgusted at churches (which is now the majority of them) that no longer have bells in their steeples, preferring to chime out a pre-recorded cacophony over loudspeakers instead. I understand times and technologies change, but why try and pretend otherwise?
Best,
Neil
Thanks, Neil—someone just sent this to me on Facebook, too. A good choice for a year end contribution.
“I have always been equally disgusted at churches (which is now the majority of them) that no longer have bells in their steeples, preferring to chime out a pre-recorded cacophony over loudspeakers instead. I understand times and technologies change, but why try and pretend otherwise?”
What would be a better call to worship, if churches are so allowed but can’t afford gigantic bronze bells?
“The participating Service member holds the bugle normally while the recording plays presenting an image not unlike an actual bugler performing Taps.”
Or, “Just ignore the man behind the curtain!”
What a condescending piece of communication. If that’s not big government telling the little people what to see, think and be contented with, I’m not sure what is.
I agree with you that this disgraceful and it shouldn’t happen. The problem is not the budget but the lack of burglars. Having someone hold up a fake bugle is no different then if someone held a boom box over their head.
You know, just to put this in perspective, in the city of Ypres in Belgium, which I am guessing few folks here have even heard of unless they are into military history or at least reasonably well-read, there stands an Arc-de-Triomphe-like structure called the Menin Gate. It’s carved with the names of all the British soldiers who fell defending Ypres in 1914, and every evening including Christmas, 3-4 men of the local fire brigade, both active and retired, under the auspices of the Last Post Association, get into full dress uniform, appear at sunset at the gate, and sound the Last Post, the British equivalent of Taps, playing very real bugles, in recognition of the Tommies who gave their lives for this city. Chief bugler Anton Verschoot just retired from this duty at the age of 90. It’s pathetic that the US can’t have a Brigade of Buglers or somesuch to honor its fallen wherever they need to be.
The bugler shortage is a fake excuse. The military could train its own buglers. They could recruit them. They could hire full time funeral civilian buglers. They could use other appropriate instruments on occasion.
Or they could limit what veterans get a bugler. Limit it to KIA, combat vets, war time vets and retired vets. I spent ten years in , it wasn’t during war time and I never saw combat so Id rather see a bugler go to those who did.
Very good solution, Bill.
While doing research on this I found out that there are lyrics for taps, I never knew that before. Another solution is to have someone sing this instead of having a bugler . While a bugle is a difficult instrument to play almost every church in the country has a choir and Im sure that singers would be lining up to sing this to honor a veteran .
Oh, I knew that way back in Scouts, in fact we’d often end campfires with that. I agree that if suitable singers can be found they might be a good alternative, although the last line about “God is nigh” might stir up some trouble from the atheist purists.
Just change the N to an H and they will be happy.
Returning to a thread with heartening news:
When Katie Prior heard that many veterans’ funerals have an audio recording of Taps, she decided to take action. Katie recruited her friends and founded the Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps to ensure heroes in her community receive the live tribute they deserve. To date, Katie has recruited 53 trumpet players in 11 states.