As the American flag is lowered from its mast, tribute is paid to fallen U.S. service members and veterans, with each somber note of taps echoing in the background. But it's no longer a bugle delivering the honorary tune. More recently, the sounds have resonated from the speakers of a CD player.
In 2000, Congress guaranteed that taps would be played at service members' funerals. Yet, the guarantee did not include live buglers, resulting in what disabled veteran Leon Kirby calls a disgrace - a shortage of bugle players across Texas.
In an attempt to end the shortage, Kirby founded Texas Buglers Inc., an organization of bugle players who play at funerals across the state.
The nonprofit organization began on June 23 and became the Texas chapter of Bugles Across America on July 31. Texas Buglers has about 140 members, and the youngest is 12 years old. Some of the members are Boy Scouts and currently earning their bugle merit badges.
"The only requirement we have is that volunteers are old enough to handle the emotions of a funeral service," Kirby said.
The organization has played at about 17 funerals thus far which, Kirby said, is a low number.
"Our volunteers aren't able to fulfill most requests because they work during the day, and national funerals are only allowed Monday through Friday," he said. "Now we're trying to get volunteers who don't work during the day."
Texas Buglers hosts fundraisers on the weekends and purchases instruments for its volunteers on Mondays. Band teachers from local school districts all over Texas have helped by teaching members of the organization how to play the bugle.
"Most of our volunteers don't know how to play," Kirby said. "We didn't realize how few people knew how to play until we started the organization."
Texas Buglers relies solely on donations and volunteers to operate and plays at funerals free of charge. Every time a bugler joins Texas Buglers, Kirby contacts the funeral homes in his or her area to tell them about their live bugle-playing services.
Bugle playing dates back to the Civil War, and Kirby said it's a way for families of fallen soldiers and veterans to help cope with the deaths of loved ones.
"90 percent of families expect taps to be played at funerals," he said. "It's a right granted to them, and our goal is to make sure every veteran and active-duty personnel gets that right."
Right now there are only three volunteers in Austin, hindering them from filling three-fourths of the funerals held here.
Before buglers arrive at funerals, Kirby reminds them of their purpose.
"You're there to honor the veteran and help the family move on," he says.
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