I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6034 

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. 

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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) The bugle call commonly known as ‘‘Taps’’ 

6 is known throughout the United States as part of 

7 the military honors accorded at funerals, memorial 


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1 services, and wreath ceremonies held for members of 

2 the uniformed services and veterans. 

3 (2) In July 1862, following the Seven Days 

4 Battles, Union General Daniel Butterfield and bu5 gler Oliver Willcox Norton created ‘‘Taps’’ at Berk6 ley Plantation, Virginia, as a way to signal the end 

7 of daily military activities. 

8 (3) ‘‘Taps’’ is now codified by the uniformed 

9 services as the last call of the day and is sounded 

10 at the completion of a military funeral. 

11 (4) ‘‘Taps’’ has become the signature, solemn 

12 musical farewell for members of the uniformed serv13 ices and veterans who have faithfully served the 

14 United States during times of war and peace. 

15 (5) Over its almost 150 years of use, ‘‘Taps’’ 

16 has been woven into the historical fabric of the 

17 United States. 

18 (6) When sounded, ‘‘Taps’’ summons emotions 

19 of loss, pride, honor, and respect and encourages 

20 Americans to remember patriots who served the 

21 United States with honor and valor. 

22 (7) The 150th anniversary of the writing of 

23 ‘‘Taps’’ will be observed with events culminating in 

24 June 2012 with a rededication of the Taps Monu25 ment at Berkley Plantation, Virginia. 


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1 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

2 It is the sense of Congress that at a military funeral, 

3 memorial service, or wreath laying, ‘‘Taps’’ should be 

4 sounded by a live solo bugler or trumpeter when such ar5 rangements are possible. 

6 SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF ‘‘TAPS’’ AS NATIONAL SONG OF 

7 REMEMBRANCE. 

8 (a) DESIGNATION.—Chapter 3 of title 36, United 

9 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol10 lowing new section: 

11 ‘‘§ 306. National Song of Remembrance 

12 ‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The bugle call commonly 

13 known as ‘Taps’, consisting of 24 notes sounded on a 

14 bugle or trumpet performed by a solo bugler or trumpeter 

15 without accompaniment or embellishment, is the National 

16 Song of Remembrance. 

17 ‘‘(b) CONDUCT DURING SOUNDING.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—During a performance of 

19 ‘Taps’ at a military funeral, memorial service, or 

20 wreath laying— 

21 ‘‘(A) all present, except persons in uni22 form, should stand at attention with the right 

23 hand over the heart; 

24 ‘‘(B) men not in uniform should remove 

25 their headdress with their right hand and hold 


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1 the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand 

2 being over the heart; and 

3 ‘‘(C) persons in uniform should stand at 

4 attention and give the military salute at the 

5 first note of ‘Taps’ and maintain that position 

6 until the last note. 

7 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not 

8 apply when ‘Taps’ is sounded as the final bugle call 

9 of the day at a military base. 

10 ‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF MILITARY BASE.—In this sec11 tion, the term ‘military base’ means a base, camp, post, 

12 station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or 

13 other activity under the jurisdiction of the Department of 

14 Defense, including any leased facility, which is located 

15 within any of the several States, the District of Columbia, 

16 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the 

17 Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mar18 iana Islands, or Guam.’’. 

19 (b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

20 (1) CHAPTER HEADING.—The heading of chap21 ter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to 

22 read as follows: 


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1 ‘‘CHAPTER 3—NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, 

2 AND OTHER NATIONAL DESIGNATIONS’’. 

3 (2) TABLE OF CHAPTERS.—The item relating 

4 to chapter 3 in the table of chapters for such title 

5 is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘3. National Anthem, Motto, and Other National Designations ............. 301’’. 

6 (3) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections 

7 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by add8 ing at the end the following new item: 

‘‘306. National Song of Remembrance.’’. 

Æ 


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