Taps Across America — buglers and trumpet players play taps across the country

This Memorial Day, most public ceremonies have been canceled. CBS News “On the Road” correspondent Steve Hartman is teaming up with retired Air Force bugler Jari Villaneuva to honor our fallen military members in a public, yet personal, way.

Villaneuva, who played with the United States Air Force Band at Arlington National Cemetery for 23 years, has an organization called Taps for Veterans that matches buglers and trumpet players with military families for funerals and ceremonies.

Taps Across America calls on veterans, musicians, teachers and students to play Taps on their front lawns, porches and driveways on Monday, May 25th, 2020, at 3 p.m. local time.

Taps is the somber 24-note melody played at military funerals and at the end of day.

If you can play the bugle or trumpet, at any skill level, you’re invited to participate.

If you’d like to have someone video you playing, please share on social media with the hashtag #CBSTaps, or upload to this folder, labeling the file with your name and location.

CBS plans to share some of the videos on Tuesdays “CBS Evening News.” 

Buglers and trumpet players, it’s suggested that you play in the key of B flat. You can find the sheet music here.

If you hear Taps being played in your neighborhood, please stop what you’re doing, and turn and face the music.

This is a chance to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day and honor those whom we have lost.

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