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Picking it back up

fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
edited December 2006 in General Discussion
I don't know if any of you remember me saying, but my Father has played taps for all of the military funerals in our area for the past 5 years, and was even featured in our state's VFW magazine for the ammount of funerals he has played in his lifetime. He played in the 60's and 70's for the Vietnam soldiers. After September 11th he picked up his trumpet again after attending a military funeral that had a recorded taps instead of a human. He has been playing almost every funeral for every vet in our area ever since.

I havn't played the trumpet in over 10 years. Today, a friend gave me an old beat up trumpet, that is ugly and needs work, but should at least be good enough for me to get my "lip" back. My goal is to get my tone up to par by the 4th of July, and if I do, I'll buy a better trumpet so that we can start to play together, with me on echo.

I always say that I'm thankful for what our veterans have done for our country. Hopefully this will give me a chance to show it also.

Ben
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Comments

  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You need to sign up here and get involved, we got one on Sun & Mon. http://www.patriotguard.org/

    PJ
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  • tacking1tacking1 Member Posts: 3,844
    edited November -1
    Dude...you know something? You really are a blessing to this forum. MOST of your posts are uplifting and funny and this one shows that you have a deep and abiding respect for those that served.

    Once you get your lip back let me know, I'll start a fundraiser to buy you a new trumpet or bugle.

    Thanks
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  • gagirlgagirl Member Posts: 5,408
    edited November -1
    Good for you Ben... I always knew you were a good guy!
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  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    If you decide to do this let me know...I have several in the shop and can cut you a great deal...I played too... drum and bugle corp in the AF. don't know if the ambashure(sp) will resurect with practice but I can still buzz my lips
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  • Glock23ExpertGlock23Expert Member Posts: 1,031 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think that's a great idea! Echo taps is a very powerful sound; I distinctly remember the very first time I heard it played. Every vet deserves to have Echo taps played at his/her funeral.
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  • peabopeabo Member Posts: 3,098
    edited November -1
    I'm proud of you and your father. Keep up the good work.


    Thanks---Peabo
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  • Chief ShawayChief Shaway Member, Moderator Posts: 6,289 ******
    edited November -1
    Good for you. Our Legion unit uses a high quality digital recording, but nothing beats the real thing. One of our Sons will play if it is requested by the family.
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  • oldgunneroldgunner Member Posts: 2,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ben, that's a fine ambition my friend. I admire you, and I extend my best wishes. Not only will you be doing a great service to fallen vets, but you will also earn the admiration of your dad, who seems to be a good man.
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  • fishermanbenfishermanben Member Posts: 15,370
    edited November -1
    Well guys. The king of procrastination finally came through. The trumpet that was originally given to me was pretty much unserviceable. I met a veteran that plays trumpet alot, but refuses to play funerals. He told me that if I would play the funerals that I could borrow his trumpet for as long as I wanted. I played echo in my first funeral today behind my Father. I wasn't really planning on it being on Dec. 7th, but it is a date, and a day that will from now on have deeper meaning to me.

    quote:Lowell Cooper, 78, was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a retired employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lowell was a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the National Trap Shooting Association. He was an avid marksman and enjoyed working in the yard in his leisure time.

    Ironically, just a few minutes before I played, I was listening to the memorial ceremony at the Arizona. The lone ship whistle, followed by the F-16s doing a flyby in the missing man formation.

    I missed one note, but since I was playing echo I doubt anyone noticed.

    Ben
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  • Jacob2008Jacob2008 Member Posts: 19,528 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I play the trumpet, Also. ive found out that a 3c mouthpiece makes it a bit easier to play ;D
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  • dongizmodongizmo Member Posts: 14,477 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishermanben
    Well guys. The king of procrastination finally came through. The trumpet that was originally given to me was pretty much unserviceable. I met a veteran that plays trumpet alot, but refuses to play funerals. He told me that if I would play the funerals that I could borrow his trumpet for as long as I wanted. I played echo in my first funeral today behind my Father. I wasn't really planning on it being on Dec. 7th, but it is a date, and a day that will from now on have deeper meaning to me.

    quote:Lowell Cooper, 78, was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a retired employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lowell was a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the National Trap Shooting Association. He was an avid marksman and enjoyed working in the yard in his leisure time.

    Ironically, just a few minutes before I played, I was listening to the memorial ceremony at the Arizona. The lone ship whistle, followed by the F-16s doing a flyby in the missing man formation.

    I missed one note, but since I was playing echo I doubt anyone noticed.

    Ben

    Thank you.
    Don
    The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.
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  • pickenuppickenup Member Posts: 22,844 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    WTG Ben.
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    [8D]WTG Ben![8D]
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