My bugling career started as a clarinetist at about age 8. After a few months I found I didn’t enjoy the clarinet and was given an old, beat up cornet my cousins had used growing up. Lessons began about age 9. I didn’t practice much. Joined the school band aged 12 where I practiced every day. My trumpeting improved. I still have that cornet.

Joining the Boy Scouts presented the use of the bugle in the field. Bugling merit badge became a goal. I acquired a used “Official Boy Scout Bugle” (which we still have) and learned all the calls in the merit badge book. Bugle calls were regularly sounded at camping trips, and summer camps for many events. Yes, the merit badge was earned. Additionally, I’m a Bugling Merit Badge counselor for Scouts that desire to earn that award.

Next unique bugling opportunity was at Quantico, Virginia as I entered Marine Officer Candidate School The drill instructors yelled for everyone who played an instrument to come to the center of the hall. We all ran at full speed. The first guy interviewed said he played violin. The drilled instructors yelled at him and had him start doing push ups. Great intro. I was next. They handed me a bugle and I could play every call they asked for. I became the bugler for my Marine training company. Reveille, Assembly, Taps every day. To The Color was played at the Training Center headquarters for raising the flag, Retreat to bring it down. Then I graduated and had no call to play the bugle for years.

Then my children were born. My family didn’t appreciate mornings as I did. The kids often heard reveille when I was time to get up. Noisy? Yes. The kids knew it was time to get up.

Many years passed. An inter-service transfer shifted me to the Navy after entering medical school. I served as a flight surgeon and operational test pilot in the Navy. In 2004 I retired from the Navy and began my next career as a civilian physician.

More years passed. I had started bugling with the Honor Guard of my American Legion post. Admittedly, I put a guy out of work who had been ‘playing’ the electronic Ceremonial Bugle.  I’m not as perfect as a recording as I insert a human element into Taps. Playing the bugle as part of our team for funeral ceremonies is one of the more meaningful events in my life.

The parents of my son-in-law told me about Bugles Across America. I joined. Each event we play is unique in terms of venue, the associated military service,  and yet the same due to the emotions we see on the faces when we sound the notes. BAA has been such a grand opportunity that when the state director moved and asked me to step up, I became the New Hampshire State Director for Buglers Across America. 

100 Nights of Remembrance was created through the unique vision of Noel Taylor. His retirement offered me an opportunity to further promote what we buglers can do in celebrating those who have passed and provide the twenty-four notes so many of us have heard for years. To paraphrase Psalms 100, we get to “make a joyful noise….”

Semper fi.