On Veteran’s Day, we take time out of our busy lives to thank our veterans and honor veterans we have lost. But there are more things that you can do every other day in the year to honor those who have served. If you play the bugle, trumpet, cornet, or flugel horn and wish that you could do more than say a simple “thank you,” then you should absolutely look into Bugles Across America. Bugles Across America is an organization where (after an initial audition process) you can volunteer to play Taps at a veteran’s funeral.

Why is Bugles Across America an important program?  Believe it or not, it’s not always easy to find a musician to play Taps for a fallen veteran. “There are not enough military buglers that can provide that service [playing Taps for a funeral] so instead they opt for having a recording device play for them,” junior Marin Nielsen said. “[That can be] really insulting to those who are protecting our country.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean that we, as people, are losing our respect for fallen veterans. There are just not many people today who can play the bugle, cornet, trumpet, or flugel horn who also know about this problem and the organization that’s trying to fix it. But that’s why it is important that Bugles Across America is made more known to people. It is imperative to honor those who have lost their lives to protect our country and one of the best ways to do that is by having someone to play at their funerals in the flesh so they don’t have to settle for using a recording.

Not only is this program beneficial to veterans and their families, but it provides great experience to those who volunteer.  Sometimes, there is nothing that feels better than helping someone out, and getting to help a person who lost their life defending our country is a tremendous honor. The volunteers in this program feel just as grateful for the program as the families they help. Take Nielsen for example. Even though she has only done it once since she auditioned not so long ago, she has already felt the impact of helping out.“[It’s] really inspiring, [and a] great honor to be able to do that for them,” Nielsen said. “It’s just great to know that this was a person who served our country, and that I’m giving them the honor they deserve.”

If you’re interested in being a part of this fantastic organization, go to www.buglesacrossamerica.org and click on the “Volunteer/Audition” tab. In case you’re nervous about time commitment, don’t worry. Nielsen mentions how flexible their scheduling is and how they “cater to your needs”, so you will be able to volunteer at a time that works for you. If you don’t know how to play any of the instruments mentioned above but would still like to help this worthy cause, simply click on the “Donate Now” button on the homepage of the organization’s website.

Don’t forget to thank your veterans this Veteran’s Day!