I
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6034
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 30, 2010
Mr. Hall of New York (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Owens, Ms. Bordallo, and Ms. Richardson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the
musical piece commonly known as Taps
as the National Song of
Remembrance, and for other purposes.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
The bugle call commonly known as
Taps
is known throughout the United States as part of the
military honors accorded at funerals, memorial services, and wreath ceremonies
held for members of the uniformed services and veterans.
In July 1862, following the Seven Days
Battles, Union General Daniel Butterfield and bugler Oliver Willcox Norton
created Taps
at Berkley Plantation, Virginia, as a way to signal
the end of daily military activities.
Taps
is now codified by the
uniformed services as the last call of the day and is sounded at the completion
of a military funeral.
Taps
has become the signature, solemn musical farewell for members of the uniformed
services and veterans who have faithfully served the United States during times
of war and peace.
Over its almost 150 years of use,
Taps
has been woven into the historical fabric of the United
States.
When sounded,
Taps
summons emotions of loss, pride, honor, and respect and
encourages Americans to remember patriots who served the United States with
honor and valor.
The 150th
anniversary of the writing of Taps
will be observed with events
culminating in June 2012 with a rededication of the Taps Monument at Berkley
Plantation, Virginia.
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of
Congress that at a military funeral, memorial service, or wreath laying,
Taps
should be sounded by a live solo bugler or trumpeter when
such arrangements are possible.
Designation of
Taps
as National Song of Remembrance
Designation
Chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
National Song of Remembrance
Designation
The bugle call commonly known as
Taps
, consisting of 24 notes sounded on a bugle or trumpet
performed by a solo bugler or trumpeter without accompaniment or embellishment,
is the National Song of Remembrance.
Conduct during sounding
In general
During a performance
of Taps
at a military funeral, memorial service, or wreath
laying—
all present, except persons in uniform, should stand at attention with the right hand over the heart;
men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
persons in uniform should stand at
attention and give the military salute at the first note of Taps
and maintain that position until the last note.
Exception
Paragraph
(1) shall not apply when Taps
is sounded as the final bugle call
of the day at a military base.
Definition of military base
In this
section, the term military base
means a base, camp, post,
station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under
the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, including any leased facility,
which is located within any of the several States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or
Guam.
.
Conforming and clerical amendments
Chapter heading
The heading of chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
National Anthem, Motto, and Other National Designations
.
Table of chapters
The item relating to chapter 3 in the table of chapters for such title is amended to read as follows:
.
Table of sections
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
306. National Song of Remembrance.
.