Bugle Players Almost All Tapped Out

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- At Memorial Day ceremonies across the nation, Americans listened to the playing of Taps as they remembered those lost.

But bugle players are almost all tapped out.

Spec. Travis Henson was called upon to play Taps at the Memorial Day ceremony at the 45th Division Museum. He brings a lot of experience and a lot of dedication to his performance.

"You have people listening and it's also supposed to be emotional, so you have to make it sound like you mean it. You can't just be robotic," Henson said.

Taps, of course, is traditionally played at all sorts of patriotic ceremonies. Unfortunately, these days there seems to be more ceremonies than buglers. Now, you'll often see a scene of someone who only pretends to play the trumpet or bugle while the music, prerecorded, comes out of a speaker.

NEWS 9 asked some veterans what they preferred.

"The thought is what's important to me. It's not the source of the sound," said Bois Marable, United States Air Force veteran.

"I prefer the bugle. However, sometimes all you have is a recording and something's better than nothing," said Jack Herron, United States Air Force veteran.

Henson, as you might expect, prefers playing Taps his way.

"I think it's important to have a live bugler and they should have more programs to offer people jobs to do that," said Henson.

Every year, Taps is sounded at 2,500 wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.