A group of ULM musicians have stepped forward to recognize the service and honor the sacrifices of United States Armed Forces veterans by performing “TAPS” at funeral and memorial services. “TAPS” is a haunting 24-note salute played by a lone bugler or trumpeter at military funerals.
Talons for Taps mission is to send members of the ULM Trumpet Studio to perform “TAPS” live for our service member’s memorial/burial services.
Talons for Taps was developed and is led by Dr. Eric Siereveld, the assistant professor of Trumpet in the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts.
In a ULM press release, Siereveld said:
“Talons for Taps was formed to provide the ULM Trumpet Studio an opportunity to give back to the community that serves us. Signaling ‘TAPS’ is a brief but moving tribute to our fallen and passed service men and women. As strange as this may seem, many service members are not given a live bugler for their memorial service or funeral. There simply are not enough military buglers available to provide ‘TAPS’ live. This is where Talons for Taps comes in. We are honored and humbled to provide live ‘Taps’ for those in our community who’ve served.”
Siereveld provides this service with about 10 other people.
Talons for Taps performances are free, however honorariums are accepted. If given, the money is used to cover travel costs and to provide the students contact with clinicians and military service people who provide this service.
Talons for Taps prefers to stay in a 30- to 40-minute travel radius, but do consider any and all requests for a Talons for Taps service. The easiest way to get in touch with Talons for Taps is through the website www.ulm.edu/music/talons-for-taps or by emailing Dr. Siereveld at [email protected]. A Talons for Taps request form is on the website.
Since forming in September 2018, Talons for Taps has performed at four funeral/memorial services and three Veterans Day events.
For more on the origin of “TAPS,” visit www.va.gov.