We all know that Glenn Traylor is a veteran of the components industry possessing a wealth of information and technical advice. What everyone might not know is that he also serves military veterans through his work with the not-for-profit Bugles Across America (BAA).
Growing up as an Army brat, Glenn’s family traveled the world and his father served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He knew the struggle of watching the news, wondering if his father would make it home, and he witnessed the invective faced by vets returning from Vietnam. For these reasons, he always felt we, as a society, owe our veterans and their families an eternal debt. So, when he learned of BAA in 2004, it was a great fit for this trumpet player.
Now, Glenn is the state director for North Carolina, and he constantly strives to have their chapter fulfill as many missions for BAA as possible. Why? These words of Glenn’s explain it best:
My best experience with BAA is also one of my saddest experiences. One day, I was filling a mission out in an area of the state that has limited coverage. When I struggled to find a bugler close by, my job happened to allow me to make the trip without too much issue, so I decided to handle the mission personally. I arrived at the service site a little early and waited for the family and friends to arrive. After a while, a nondescript van rolled up and a group of gentlemen exited the vehicle. One of the gentlemen immediately walked over to me, introduced himself and said “you must be the bugler.” I said “yes, I am with Bugles Across America.” He explained that he was the owner of a local funeral home and that, when this veteran passed away without any family or friends, he took it upon himself to make sure the veteran had a proper service. That hot humid morning, a small group of strangers provided funeral rites for a veteran. I struggled to hold my composure. My mind flooded with the thought that many veterans every day don’t get Taps. God bless our veterans.
Because every veteran deserves a live rendition of Taps at their service, BAA has more than 4000 bugler volunteers located in all 50 states, a growing number overseas, and welcomes additional players. Volunteers may play a traditional bugle with no valves, or they can complete the ceremony on a trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, or a 1, 2, or 3 valved bugle. The bugler can be of any age as long as they can sound Taps with an ease and style that will do honor to the veterans, their families, and the burial detail performing the service. For more information, visit www.buglesacrossamerica.org.