WHEREAS, Recognition of this prestigious milestone is a | 7 |
fitting tribute to "Taps." General Daniel Butterfield of the Union | 8 |
Army wanted a less formal bugle call to replace the last call of | 9 |
the day to signify "extinguish lights," and in 1862, he composed | 10 |
"Taps" at Berkeley Plantation in Harrison's Landing, Virginia. The | 11 |
new call was soon adopted throughout the military and was | 12 |
officially recognized by the U.S. Army in 1874; and | 13 |
WHEREAS, Today, "Taps" is easily recognized throughout | 14 |
America for its moving and emotive melody. Unique to the U.S. | 15 |
armed forces, the call is used at American military bases around | 16 |
the world to signal the end of the day, and since 1891, it has | 17 |
also been played as a standard at military funerals as a final | 18 |
tribute to our fallen veterans; and | 19 |
WHEREAS, In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized full military | 20 |
honors at the funerals of all honorably discharged veterans, | 21 |
including the playing of "Taps" on either a ceremonial or digital | 22 |
bugle. The Taps 150 Organization is petitioning Congress to have | 23 |
"Taps" recognized as America's national song of remembrance, and | 24 |
it is also working to refurbish the Taps Memorial Monument and to | 25 |
schedule national events to recognize the one hundred fiftieth | 26 |
anniversary of "Taps," including at Berkeley Plantation; now | 27 |
therefore be it | 28 |