Speaker for November 10 - Howard Hudson

Posted by Rockwood Ludes 
 
Howard spoke to us about the history and duties of a military bugler.
 
In keeping with a Veterans’ Day theme, our speaker today was Howard Hudson, who plays the bugle for military affairs.  Although he began learning the trumpet in the 4th grade, he has only played the bugle for the past 13 years.  A friend and member of his Lions Club had died.  He was a WW II veteran and the family was looking for a bugler for the service.  He heard of their need and offered to play for the service.  Howard found this to be very gratifying.  The local head of the American Legion was there and asked if he would  play the bugle for others too.  And that’s how his story began.

In 2003, the Marines asked him to play not just Taps, but To the Colors and Mess Call.  He hunted on the Internet for the music and found it.  But while on the ‘net, he discovered the nonprofit organization Bugles Across America, founded in 2000.  Congress had changed the law for authorized military funerals.  Before the change, a “live bugler” was first choice, with a recording allowed if a live bugler was not available.  After the change, a recording was named first, with a live bugler as also authorized.  That minor but significant change inspired a sort of rally for buglers.

He was asked to be the officially delegated California bugler at the dedication of the WWII memorial in Washington DC.  Then he was invited to be the California State director of Bugles Across America.

Howard gave us an interesting historical account of the use of bugles. Their use probably starting around the of the Biblical story of Jericho, where an army blowing rams horns made such a noise that walls of the city fell.  Fast-forward to 150 years ago, when bugle calls announced messages to the troops.  At that time there were 92 different calls.  But wars are fought differently now, using small patrols that do not want to be noticed.  By WW II, there were walkie-talkies and radios, so bugles are now obsolete for the former purpose of communication to the troops.

But bugle calls were still used in company garrisons.  There were up to 10 calls a day in recent years, including 1st Call (for Cooks & Sergeants), Reveille, Assembly, To the Colors, various Mess Calls, Tatoo and Taps (lights out).  There are only 400-500 military buglers in the various branches of American military service, but there are about 2,000 veterans who die each day.  Buglers Across America now has about 7,500 members who make themselves available, at no charge, for this important service. 

Howard also brought a collection of eight bugles and explained their differences and history.  One interesting bugle was used in WW II and made of plastic!  It plays well, and was practical during the war because it did not shine as brass would.  He played Taps for us in the traditional (Butterfield) version.  He then explained the US Marines version, arranged by John Philip Sousa, and played some of it – we could easily hear the difference.  Despite his service, he has not served in the U.S. armed forces. 

 Howard welcomes opportunities to bugle for military memorials or funerals.  He can be reached at 963-4447 or hrhcpa@silcom.com.

Thank you for an excellent presentation and for your years of service honoring our Veterans.

Rocky Ludes

 
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