PRINTER'S NO. 3975
No. 803 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY LENTZ, BARRAR, CREIGHTON, EVERETT, GEIST, GIBBONS,
GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, JAMES, W. KELLER,
KULA, MAHONEY, MICOZZIE, MURT, PALLONE, PETRONE, PYLE,
RAMALEY, READSHAW, K. SMITH, THOMAS, VEREB, VULAKOVICH,
J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 18, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 18, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Secretary of Education to direct the Commonwealth's
2 school districts to provide training in the playing of Taps.
3 WHEREAS, Taps is the most recognized military bugle call and
4 is played at funerals, wreath-layings and memorial services for
5 the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces; and
6 WHEREAS, Taps was adapted from an old bugle signal,
7 Extinguish Lights, by Union General Daniel Butterfield for his
8 men in the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army
9 of the Potomac in July 1862; and
10 WHEREAS, General Butterfield was not pleased with the
11 existing bugle call for Extinguish Lights and, with the help of
12 brigade bugler Oliver Wilcox Norton, General Butterfield adapted
13 Taps to honor his men while they camped at Harrison's Landing in
14 Virginia following the brutal Seven Day's battle; and
15 WHEREAS, Soon after its conception in General Butterfield's
16 unit, the playing of Taps spread to other units of the Union and
1 Confederate armies and was made the official bugle call of the
2 United States military following the Civil War; and
3 WHEREAS, There is now a shortage of individuals to play Taps
4 at local veterans and memorial events, and some Veterans of
5 Foreign Wars and American Legion organizations are forced to
6 rely on recorded versions of Taps because they are unable to
7 find individuals to play the call on the trumpet or bugle; and
8 WHEREAS, Public and private schools should be encouraged by
9 this Commonwealth to include this important and patriotic
10 composition in their music curriculum; and
11 WHEREAS, It is important for school districts to instruct
12 students who play the trumpet or bugle to play Taps in order to
13 preserve the integrity of this classic composition and to ensure
14 that individuals can play Taps at funeral and memorial services
15 for the fallen heroes in the United States Armed Forces;
16 therefore be it
17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
18 Secretary of Education to direct the Commonwealth's school
19 districts to provide training in the playing of Taps.
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