Sapulpa High School students Kean Murphy, Ehlana Klonecki, Nathaniel Adamson, and Dylan Wilson participated in the recent Taps for Veterans training held at Sapulpa High School on Thursday, September 15th, spearheaded by the Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps.
The training in Sapulpa helped the students to learn more about their roles as members of the final honors team and gave them an opportunity to practice playing Taps alongside the Sapulpa High School Marine Corps JROTC rifle team.
The goal of YTTC’s training was to encourage high school students to volunteer and honor veterans in their local communities. Student Taps players are the organization’s solution to the increasing trend of many veterans receiving an audio recording of Taps if a military bugler is not available. Volunteers also accept invitations to play patriotic music at community events honoring veterans. Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps volunteers across the country have performed at over 200 community events and funerals.
“It’s an honor to participate in the celebration of the lives of veterans who helped make our country what it is today,” said Katie Prior, Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps Founder.
The Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps was founded by Katie Prior—an eleventh grader herself—after she discovered that many veterans receive an audio recording of Taps instead of a live performance. Katie earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for the project and has since expanded the program to 30 states across the country. Katie has been selected as the first recipient of the Oklahoma Standard Award, to be given by the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in November which was established to recognize the spirit of unbridled generosity that was so evident among Oklahomans following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
With gratitude for their volunteerism, student volunteers will be eligible to earn $25 Giftcollege.com tuition cards or each funeral served thanks to a donation from LeadingAgile. The YTTC event was made possible with the help and support of the Oklahoma Patriot Guard Riders, Sonic – America’s Drive In, and the Sapulpa High School Instrumental Music Program.
For more information on the Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps, visit www.TrumpetAndTaps.org or Facebook.com/TrumpetAndTaps
About the Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps
Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps Association is a service organization dedicated to honoring military veterans and is operated by high school trumpet players volunteering to use their musical gifts. The organization is based in Oklahoma and has a mission to train, support, and recognize high school trumpet players who volunteer and also to foster patriotism in youth through volunteerism.
Photos by Karen Prior on Location at Sapulpa High School
