KEARNEY, Neb. — A band instructor at Kearney High School is recruiting students to help fill the need for buglers at military funerals.
Rick Mitchell discovered the shortage after performing at military funerals for several years. Often times a recorded version of taps is played at a funeral, but he believes veterans deserve better.
"There's no reason why any veteran who has sacrificed for our country should have to have a recording played at their funeral," Mitchell said.
When Mitchell is unable to attend military funerals and play taps, he asks two of his students, Caleb Hardy and Bailey Premer, to step up to the task, The Kearney Hub reported.
"The fact that we were chosen to be a part of that is really an honor," said Hardy, who's a senior at the high school.
Premer, a junior, said family members at the funerals often express their gratitude. Veterans who attend military funerals "really liked the fact that young people were doing it," Mitchell said.
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Mitchell said he's impressed with the students because they play well under pressure and handle the duty with professionalism.
"They realize they have a job to do, and they don't let their nerves get in the way," he said.
Both students said playing taps isn't technically difficult, but sometimes it's hard to manage the emotions that come with performing at the funerals.
"The live instruments bring more emotion out," said Premer, who admits playing taps at military funerals regularly brings him to tears. "To convey that emotion and feeling into it, it's a very hard piece."
