Taps

Taps is a military tune that is generally played by a trumpet or bugle, often during flag ceremonies. It is also played at funerals and memorial services. The 140-year-old bugle call[?] was composed by Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield, who commanded the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the American Civil War.

Butterfield wrote Taps at Harrison's Landing, Virginia[?], in July 1862 to replace the customary firing of three rifle volleys at the end of burials during battle. Taps also replaced "Tatoo", the French bugle call to signal "lights out." Butterfield's bugler, Oliver W. Norton of Chicago, Illinois, was the first to sound the new call. Within months, "Taps" was sounded by buglers in both Union and Confederate forces.

Taps concludes nearly 15 military funerals conducted with honors each weekday at the Arlington National Cemetery, as well as hundreds of others around the country. The tune is also played at many memorial services in Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater and at gravesites throughout the cemetery.

Taps is sounded during each of the 2,500 military wreath ceremonies conducted at the Tomb of the Unknowns every year, including the ones held on Memorial Day. The ceremonies are viewed by many people, including veterans, school groups, and foreign officials. Taps is also played nightly at 10 PM in military installations to indicate that it is "lights out". When Taps is played, it is customary to salute (if you are in uniform) or to place your hand over your heart (if you aren't).

Much of this article is taken from a public domain article by Kathryn Shenkle, a historian with Arlington National Cemetery.

See also: Daniel Butterfield

External links

• Public domain article about Taps (http://www.army.mil/soldiers/may95/p28)
  • A different story about the composition of Taps (http://www.sgaus.org/tap1.htm)
  • ...and another. (http://www.sgaus.org/tap3.htm)
• History of Taps (http://www.tapsbugler.com/24NotesExcerpt/Page1)
• The Progression of Taps (http://44tennessee.tripod.com/dutchman/taps)
• Image of Taps sheet music (http://www.tapsbugler.com/24NotesExcerptphotos/15.-24Notes.jpg)

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TAPS can also be used as an acronym for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.