CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Trumpeters and musicians of all ages across the nation are being invited to play taps at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.

 

The idea comes from CBS News "On the Road" correspondent Steve Hartman and retired Air Force bugler Jari Villanueva to keep the spirit of the holiday alive. Parades and observances have been canceled or limited because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

 

Instead of gatherings that might spread the deadly and highly contagious COVID-19, buglers and trumpeters are asked to stand alone to play taps to mark the holiday dedicated to the nation's military personnel who have lost their lives. 

 

iBerkshires was alerted to the event by Clarksburg resident James Stakenas, the big band conductor for the Eagles Community Band. 

 

"Here's an opportunity for all the trumpet players out there to honor our veterans and heroes on Memorial Day," band manager Deanna Fraher wrote in an email forwarded to iBerkshires. "All of us Eagles should stand on our porches, driveways, wherever and play taps at 3 p.m. Monday."

 

Bugles were often used to signal commands to troops and the notes of taps let the camp know that evening, "end of day," had fallen. It's now used at funerals and memorial observances to note an ending. 

 

According to CBS News, Hartman was inspired by a story he'd done in 2012 about a retired aerospace worker who would play taps from his Tacoma, Wash., balcony exactly at sunset every day. 

 

Veterans, musicians, teachers, and students of all abilities and ages are being asked to sound the 24-note bugle call from their homes on Memorial Day.

 

"Hartman and Villanueva hope that the nationwide event will offer an opportunity to pause for a moment to pay tribute to fallen service members and victims of the coronavirus pandemic while maintaining social distancing guidelines," according to CBS News.

 

Participants can video themselves performing and submit to CBS News, which will select some performances for broadcast on Tuesday. The sheet music can be found here and the suggestion is to play in B flat.

 

"It is a brilliant program to honor veterans this year with so many local programs cancelled," wrote Stakenas. "I am playing taps in my front yard at 3 p.m. [Monday]."

 

All the information on how to play and participate can be found at here at CBS News.