They have electronic bugles nowadays that just play taps themselves...no real playing required. The problem we are facing here though, is that the numbers of guys who even do flag ceremonies are dwindling. The WWII guys are dying and no one is stepping up to fill their place in the American Legion.
Here's a funny little quip I related when I wrote about this subject a few months ago:
"The American Legion men's organization and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary both need young blood. The Greatest Generation Ladies won't be around forever. It seems they attend more funerals nowadays than they do birthday parties. Last month, Mildred Betts entered the legion hall in Jensen only to discover a terrible smell. So, she began lighting candles to cover the smell. It was soon discovered the noxious odor was emanating from a propane tank. Longtime Legion member Boyd Redden told Mildred she'd gotten lucky that time then quipped, “If we'd have been blown up who would've done the 21 gun salute over our graves?” There is humor in Boyd's comments, but also a truth and a realization that once these people are gone, so are their traditions and a huge part of American culture and life."
It's funny, but it's true. We're having a heck of a time getting young people to join the Legion to carry on important traditions such as flag ceremonies for veterans at gravesides. When my dad died nearly 2 years ago the older fellows were all there, but the young kid, a returning soldier or active duty guardsman...I don't know what he was, who was supposed to fold the flag and hand it to my mother had no idea what he was supposed to do. One of the legion guys, a WWII vet, was helping him, but I could see the frustration on his face as the kid kept flubbing the ceremony. It's an important ritual and those WWII vets take great pride in it.
Also- there was a POW MIA ceremony we stayed at the cemetery for on Memorial Day in Roosevelt. It was a neat ceremony, but those older WWII vets had to stand out in the hot sun for 45 minutes before they got to do the 21 gun salute. I was worried about a few of them! I thought they were going to pass out and I KNEW they needed to sit down. But, like the true soldiers they are, they stood erect and didn't even so much as wipe the sweat from their brows. That made me very proud, but it was also further proof that those guys won't be able to do all that much longer and it's sad to think there is no one taking their place.
