LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They are the 24 notes often played to honor those who have died after service to our country.
Steve Buttleman, Churchill Downs' official bugler, performed Taps in between races at the track this Memorial Day as part of Taps Across America.
What You Need To Know
- Steve Buttleman is the official bugler for Churchill Downs
- He performed Taps on Memorial Day as part of Taps Across America
- Thousands of people across the country were expected to play Taps at 3 p.m.
- Participants uploaded videos of their performances online
Visitors observed a moment of silence before Buttleman's performance.
"The song Taps is sacred to me, really, as a trumpet player," he said. "I love playing for the Derby and the Oaks. It’s an incredible honor, but when I get to play Taps at a military funeral, I feel like that’s the highest honor that I could do or perform as a trumpet player.”
Last Memorial Day, when the pandemic prevented gatherings, Taps Across America encouraged people to honor the fallen from wherever they could.
Buttleman was one of the thousands that organizers estimated would play Taps this year at 3 p.m.
From Minnesota to South Carolina and Maryland, participants shared their performances online.
“It’s great to be able to participate in this event that’s all across the country," Buttleman said. "It kind of makes me tear up just now. We need more things that unite us as Americans. So many things divide us that we need to remember that we have more in common with each other than we have differences.”