Frequently Asked Questions and Help

Does My Loved One (or Event) Qualify?

If your loved one is an honorably discharged member of the Armed Services of the United States of America, they qualify. Feel free to make your request for a bugler.
If your event commemorates Military Veterans of the United States of America, your event qualifies. Feel free to make your request.

How Much Does It Cost?

TapsForVeterans does not charge any fees for matching buglers.
Some buglers may request reimbursment for travel or other expenses related to sounding Taps at your memorial or event. These charges are between you and the bugler. TapsForVeterans does not share in any reimbursments you choose to make. You may provide an honorarium to the bugler.

I am trying to log in but forgot my username.

Use the email address that you signed up with in the username field.

I am trying to log in but forgot my password.

Click the link below. Use the email address that you signed up with to request a password reset.
Get Password Reset

I tried to log in but am now locked out

Please wait for 20 minutes, and then use the password reset button shown in the previous question to get a new password. Please save your new password, preferably with a password manager, such as LastPass or 1Password

I made a Request for a Bugler, but have not been contacted.

Buglers in your area will contact you if they are available.
TapsForVeterans.org cannot guarantee to find a bugler to fulfill your request. If we do find buglers, we cannot guarantee their availability.

I have applied to be a Bugler, but have not heard back.

TapsForVeterans is a volunteer organization. We respond to bugler applications as quickly as we can.
TapsForVeterans asks all Bugler Applicants to upload a video recording of themselves sounding Taps as part of our screening and record-keeping process. If you have not uploaded a video yet please do so here.

I am trying to request a Bugler – it’s asking me to Log In!

If you have made a request for a bugler in the past, you are registered in our system. Please send us a message from our Contact Page letting us know, and we will adjust the settings to allow you to make a new request. Please note that we cannot fill out your request for you.

Are there Buglers near me?

Visit our Bugler Map. Please note that the map is updated semi-annually, so even if you don’t see any buglers near you, we may have added some recently. We recommend you make your request, using the most accurate location information as you can.
Not all buglers are available all the time. There may be buglers outside your search radius who are willing to travel to your memorial or event. Regardless of whether buglers are located within your search radius, we encourage you to request a bugler.
Check Bugler Map

Can I volunteer as a bugler if I use an electronic bugle?

We require our buglers to be able to play the bugle, trumpet or cornet. We do not accept electronic bugles.

I am a Bugler – What should I wear to sound Taps?

A dark suit or dress is acceptable and if qualified, a boy scout uniform, civilian band uniform or quasi-military uniform (without rank) is acceptable.
Stay away from band uniforms that have large, flashy hats or uniforms adorned with too many pins, patches and badges.
Veterans of military service may wear their respective service uniform if authorized and follow proper weight and grooming guidelines. More info here: https://veteran.com/military-uniform-retirees-veterans/
Please be prepared for changing weather conditions. Bring a raincoat or proper outerwear.

I am a bugler. How can I update my information in your system? What information can I update?

You can update your information by logging in to your account and editing your profile.
You may login using the Login link below. Please bookmark the address.
You can update the following information:

Name
Email address
Biography
Location – we recommend you use your home town or zip code, but can be as specific as a street address. We do not publish this information, it is used to calculate distance to a requestors location.
Travel radius – how far you are willing to travel. Please note this is a straight line distance, so actual travel distance will be different.
Phone number – this must be a mobile telephone number that can accept text message notifications.
Shared Contact Details – you can elect to have us share your telephone number and email or one or the other or neither.
Qualifications – to be a Taps Bugler with Taps For Veterans.

Bugler Login

I am a Bugler and need to de-activate my account.

Please send us a message from our Contact page and we will take care of it.

I am a Bugler – where is the requestor’s contact information?

Requestor contact information is provided once you claim the mission. You will not see it if you have not claimed the mission.
Once you claim a mission, the system will process your claim, and then reveal the contact information on the same page. You will also receive an email with all the information, sent to your registered email address.

I am a Bugler – I accepted a mission, but now I cannot fulfill it. What should I do?

We ask that you take the following steps if circumstances prevent you from fulfilling a mission that you have claimed:
1) Contact your local network of buglers and try to find someone who can replace you.
2) If you cannot find a replacement, send an email using our Contact Form and let us know. We can re-open the request. Please include in your email the Date and Location of the event.

I am a Bugler – I followed the link to claim a mission, but I was sent to the log in page. What should I do?

We are working on making it as easy as possible to claim a mission. However, we have not ironed out all the wrinkles yet. So please log in using your registered email address and your password. You can then find the mission and claim it.
If you forgot your password – just reset it using the “Lost your password” link below the log in box.

I am a Bugler – I went to claim a mission, but all I saw was “It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.”

This means the mission was deleted. No need to do anything else.

How can I stay up to date with TapsForVeterans?

Please visit our Facebook page.
You can also sign up to receive our newsletter (below).

I need to modify my request

We’re sorry, but we cannot modify requests at this time. If you have not been contacted by a bugler, you may cancel the request and make a new one. If you have been contacted, please alert the bugler.

How can I support TapsForVeterans?

Please consider a donation (link below) or purchase a patch or pin.