May 19, 2007 – EchoTaps 2007 is being held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
In 2005, nearly 700 brass players from 30 states gathered in upstate New York to perform the military bugle call Taps. Buglers performed a continuous cascading version of taps over a 42.2 mile path between the Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, NY and Bath, NY. Later, at the Bath location, the players performed Taps en masse. The project, called EchoTaps, involved 2,200 volunteers and attracted national media coverage.
A national program is being planned that will stage EchoTaps at each of the 123 National Cemeteries across the United States. At each location organizers will perform a tribute based on operation plans for any number of buglers, from 10 to 1000.
The purpose of EchoTaps is to raise awareness of National Cemeteries, celebrate the 60th anniversary of VA Voluntary Service, increase volunteer participation, increase the number of buglers available for military burial services and increase exposure of the VA Voluntary Service program.
EchoTaps is being planned for Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota on Armed Forces Day (May 19, 2007). Here as elsewhere in the country it is a cooperative effort of the Department of Veterans Affairs & Bugles Across America. Brass player of all ages are asked to perform at the cemetery of their choice. The only requirement is the ability to play a live rendition of Taps on a brass instrument. Color guards and pipers are also requested. Others are needed as volunteers to make this event a success.
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