EVESHAM -- New Jersey public school students would be able to get excused absences from school to play “Taps” at military funerals under a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Brandon Umba (R-Medford).
The 8th District legislator and member of the Assembly’s Education Committee offered the legislation because he says it can be hard for military families to find trumpet players to perform America’s national song of remembrance at military funerals.
“I have heard from both students and military families that this is an issue. Despite the many veterans living in our state, it can be difficult to find buglers and trumpet players for military funerals, often requiring an audio recording be used instead,” Umba said.
The bill would require public school students to be provided with an excused absence for performing “Taps” at the funeral of a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or New Jersey National Guard. Umba says this mirrors existing laws in at least 5 other states that allow students to assist families of veterans or funeral directors in this respect.
“Every veteran deserves a funeral ceremony that befits the sacrifices they made when they enlisted in service of our country,” Umba concluded. “‘Taps’ is more than just a song played at funerals. It is a military signal marking the end of the day, but in this context, it marks the end of a veterans’ life. Proper performance requires a musician to intone more emotion than any recording could ever possibly convey.”
Umba is hopeful that his bill’s passage will also benefit student musicians, who will learn from the experience of using their music to honor another person’s life.
The bill, A-257, has been introduced to the Assembly Education Committee where it awaits further action.
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