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Posts Tagged ‘bugle’

6th Annual Trumpet Recital Features 8 Students

Posted by glennled on September 20, 2015

“The Chicken Dance”

There is no friendlier audience!

Eight private trumpet students of mine performed for their parents, relatives and friends on 5 June at the Sixth Annual Trumpet Recital held in my home–four in the morning session and four in the afternoon. They ranged from beginning band members to a high school senior who recently played in Inglemoor High School’s Wind Ensemble in Carnegie Hall in New York! (See my post of 29 April 2015).

In the afternoon session, three of us (including me) played “Funeral March,” a bugle call in three-part harmony.

The final performance of the recital was billed on the program as “Theme from ‘Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major'” by Joseph Haydn. It was a spoof, however. The trumpeter, a high school junior, appeared from the basement dressed in a chicken suit and played “The Chicken Dance.” Refreshments followed.

Recitals are fun, and weekly lessons pay off in many ways for every student and family.

Photos are by Nancy MacDonald. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.

: Morning Session

: Mom plays duet with son, “Minuet” by Johann Sebastian Bach

: Afternoon Session

Posted in Recitals | Tagged: band, bugle, Carnegie Hall, Inglemoor High School, lessons, recital, The Chicken Dance, trumpet, Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major, trumpeter, wind ensemble | Leave a Comment »

2015 Memorial Day Ceremony, Veterans Park, Lynnwood

Posted by glennled on September 17, 2015

Glenn (Taps) and Robert (Echo)

It was the same this year but not the same. Same national holiday, same place, same participating organizations, same order of events, etc. But when it came to sounding “Echo Taps,” this was the first time that one of my trumpet students, Robert, was ending his senior year in high school and planning to attend college in the fall. Farewell to Inglemoor High School in Kenmore and hello to Washington State University in Pullman–a big leap for a young man!

This is the second time he sounded “Echo Taps” with me at this place–please see my post of 19 June 2014. For more about Memorial Day, please see my posts of 18 August 2015, 1 June 2013, 2 June 2012, and 3 June 2011 in the Archives (left).

All photos by Nancy MacDonald unless otherwise marked. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.

: Martin Spani, USMC (Ret.), Master of Ceremonies

: “Welcome,” by Nicola Smith, Mayor, City of Lynnwood

: “God Bless America,” Northwest Jr. Pipe Band, Kevin Auld, Director

: Jim Smith, former Lynnwood City Councilman, sang “Ballad of the Green Berets” and “America the Beautiful”

: Myra Rintamak, escorted by Frank Martinez, lays the Gold Star Mothers’ Wreath

: Glenn Ledbetter, “Echo Taps,” 5-25-’15. Photo by Janelle Squires.

: Glenn Ledbetter sounds “Echo Taps” on Getzen Field Trumpet (bugle)

: Glenn, Robert, and his parents

: Three relatives…

: Comrades gather around the flag

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, echo taps, Getzen Field Trumpet, Inglemoor High School, To the Color, trumpet, Washington State University | Leave a Comment »

“To the Color” with Girl Scouts Color Guard at Pacific Little League Day, 25 April 2015

Posted by glennled on May 4, 2015

Washington District 1 and Northwest Little League Champions, comprised of Pacific Little League All-Stars, played in 2014 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Washington District 1 and Northwest Little League Champions, comprised of Pacific Little League All-Stars, played in the 2014 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Is there a future Seattle Mariners baseball star in the Pacific Little League? The huge crowd in Lynnwood on 25 April 2015, might reasonably hope so, given the exceptionally strong performance of its All-Stars last year when they played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Celebration of their significant accomplishment highlighted this year’s Pacific Little League Day.

Glenn Ledbetter, VFW Post 1040 Bugler, sounds “To the Color”

And for the fourth year in a row, I was privileged to participate by sounding “To The Color,” this time on my new Getzen bugle, while Girl Scout Troop #44193 presented the colors to the hundreds of players and their fans at Harry H. Moore Field, Lynndale Park.

Every season opening is filled with excitement and hope, for “every day is a new day, with no mistakes in it,” as Anne of Green Gables says in the movie. For more information about and photos of the very special Pacific Little League, this venue, and this annual event, see my previous blog posts of 22 May 2012, 26 May 2013, and 7 June 2014.

Unless otherwise identified, these photos are by Carol Sheldon, Michelle Corsi, and Nancy MacDonald. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.

: Echelbarger Fieldhouse at Harry H. Moore Field, Lynndale Park, Lynnwood, WA

: Color Guard, walk-through rehearsal prior to the ceremony

: Glenn Ledbetter organizes Girl Scout Color Guard before ceremony begins. Photo by David Pan, Editor, Lynnwood Today.

: Parade of Players – 1

: Parade of Players – 2

: “My first drone!”

: Demonstrating how to make a sound on a bugle (with mute in bell)

: Standby….

: Color Guard awaits the command, “Present the Colors”

: Color Guard, Girls Scouts Troop #44193, in position during “To the Color”

: “To the Color” by Glenn Ledbetter, VFW Post 1040 Bugler

: “Star Spangled Banner” by Jaymie Studioso

: Reciting the Little League Pledge

: 2014 Washington District 1 and Northwest Little League Champions – Robley Corsi, NW Regional Coach of the Year

: Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling throws ceremonial first pitch

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: bugle, bugler, Getzen, Girl Scouts, Little League World Series, Lynndale Park, Mayor Dave Earling, mute, Pacific Little League, To the Color, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »

My New Getzen Bugle!

Posted by glennled on May 4, 2015

Getzen Field Trumpet, M2003E, with B-flat tuning slide

Getzen Bugle with 3C Mouthpiece and Carrying Case

On 17 February 2015, UPS delivered a carefully wrapped package from Getzen Company, Inc. of Elkhorn, Wisconsin directly to my front door. Instantly, I knew what was inside—my new Getzen Field Trumpet!—commonly known as a bugle. I played it publicly for the first time with the Honor Guard, VFW Post 1040, on the following Saturday at a graveside service at the IOOF Cemetery in Monroe, WA. It’s sonorous!

I bought model M2003E with a clear lacquer finish. It bears logos for Getzen and Bugles Across America (BAA) and a special etching on mine: John 15:13. As you know, that’s where Jesus says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

The bell is one piece, hand-hammered yellow brass. Like all Getzens I’ve ever played, it blows easily, with minimal resistance, and the tone is solid and rich. I bought the extra G tuning slide, too. I plan to use the G tuning slide for “Taps” and “Funeral March” and the B-flat slide for most other bugle calls. The U.S. Army and Navy use at least 67 bugle calls.

In addition to being Post Bugler for VFW Post 1040, I am also a member of BAA, a national organization that furnishes live buglers for military funerals, memorials and ceremonies. The designation, “American Heritage Elite,” is given by Getzen to those field trumpets purchased by members of BAA. See http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org. For more about Getzen instruments, see http://www.getzen.com.

: Getzen Carrying Case

: Bugle with G Tuning Slide

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: BAA, bugle, bugler, Bugles Across America, field trumpet, Funeral March, Getzen, Taps, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »

“Taps” at 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War Ceremony at Tulalip

Posted by glennled on April 30, 2015

Vietnam War Commemoration Flag

On 7 February 2015, some 150 veterans, family members, and friends gathered at the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, north of Everett, WA, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The theme of the ceremony was “Welcome Home,” exemplified by displaying the new Vietnam War Commemoration Flag.

In a Proclamation (see http://www.vietnamwar50th.com), President Barack Obama declared that the period 28 May 2012 through 11 November 2025 is designated as “Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.” He called upon federal, state, and local officials to honor, with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities, “our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our prisoners of war, their families, and all who served.” That’s just what the hosts did on this occasion. The sponsors were the Tulalip Veterans Center and the Washington State Gold Star Mothers (see my posts of 06/17/2014 and 06/19/2014).

USS Koiner (DE-331)

Some 15 symbols on the flag are explained at http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/about_the_flag. Martin Spani of VFW Post 1040, Lynnwood, spoke about each one. The message at the bottom of the flag has special meaning to Vietnam vets: “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.” The keynote address was presented by Vietnam veteran, Michael Reagan, of the Fallen Heroes Project (see my posts of 11/19/2011, 11/19/2012, and 06/17/2014).

To open the ceremony, I sounded the bugle call, “Assembly.” At its conclusion, I sounded “Taps.” I also am a Vietnam War veteran—Lt., USNR, served in Operation Market Time off Vietnam in 1965-67, USS Koiner (DE-331), Operations Officer. The Koiner was home-ported in Agana, Guam during the Vietnam War. She was named for Ltjg. James Duval Koiner who died during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942.

You may click on any image to enlarge it.

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, Commemoration Flag, Koiner, Martin Spani, Michael Reagan, Taps, Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, VFW Post 1040, Vietnam War, Washington State Gold Star Mothers | Leave a Comment »

5th Annual Wreath Dedication at Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Seattle

Posted by glennled on April 28, 2015

Lianna Bennett sits at the headstone of her grandfather U.S. Army Col. William W. Etchemendy during Wreaths Across America's 150th anniversary, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Lianna Bennett sits at the headstone of her grandfather, U.S. Army Col. William W. Etchemendy, during Wreaths Across America’s ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Every December, every year, the crowds keep getting bigger as the Wreaths Across America ceremony spreads and becomes more well-known. Here in Seattle, it was celebrated for the fifth time on 13 December 2014, at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Evergreen-Washelli. The prime sponsor of the local event is Navy Wives Clubs of America #277, led by Lorraine Zimmerman.

The 1st Corps Command Honor Guard performed Color Guard duties. For the fifth year in a row, the Honor Guard of VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood furnished the rifle team and bugler for the rifle salute and bugle calls, “Assembly” and “Taps,” and as you know, I’m 1040’s Post Bugler. I’ve posted two other articles in this blog about this annual event (see my posts of 12/16/2011 and 1/9/2013).

This ceremony has its roots in the patriotic experience of the owner of the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, in 1992, when he and others took some surplus wreaths to be laid at selected tombstones, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. At the third website in the list below, you can read the history of how this ceremony has spread nationwide since 2007, when the non-profit organization, Wreaths Across America (WAA), was formed.

In 2010, WAA and its national network of volunteers laid more than 220,000 memorial wreaths at 545 locations in the USA and beyond. One year later, Navy Wives Club #277 joined that group of volunteers in bringing the ceremony to Evergreen-Washelli and Seattle.

For additional information, please go to the following websites:

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Arlington National Cemetery, Assembly, bugle, bugler, Evergreen Washelli, Navy Wives Club #277, Taps, Veterans Memorial Cemetery, VFW Post 1040, Wreaths Across America | Leave a Comment »

“Echo Taps” on Veterans Day at Veterans Park in Lynnwood, 11-11-2014

Posted by glennled on April 15, 2015

Trumpeters who sounded “Echo Taps”

Why is this holiday on 11 November? Because that’s when World War I ended—at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918. And that helps explain why, 96 years later on Veterans Day 2014, the memorial ceremony at Veterans Park in Lynnwood, WA commenced at 11 a.m.

VFW Post 1040 hosted the event, attended by hundreds of people who gathered to honor all veterans. Participants included Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith, Puget Sound Honor Flight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band, Boy Scouts Troup 49, Cub Scouts from BSA Pack 331, Legion of Honor of the Nile Shrine Center, and the VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard.

As VFW Post 1040 bugler, I sounded three bugle calls: “Assembly” to call the people to order to commence the ceremony, “Echo Taps” to conclude the ceremony, and afterwards at noon, “To the Color,” to raise the flag from half-staff to full-mast. In playing “Echo Taps,” I was joined by a trumpet student of mine from Juanita High School in Kirkland. Please click on the photo to enlarge it.

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, bugler, echo taps, Northwest Junior Pipe Band, To the Color, trumpeters, Veterans Day, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »

Bugle Calls at Flag-Changing Ceremony at Crista Senior Living in Shoreline

Posted by glennled on June 28, 2014

the worn-out flag, while bugler sounds "Retreat"

John Zambrano and Elmer Johnson of VFW Post 1040 retire the old flag, while Glenn Ledbetter sounds “Retreat”

Flags wear out and need to be replaced. There’s one bugle call, “Retreat,” for lowering the U.S. flag, and another, “To the Color,” for hoisting the flag. I got to play both on 12 June at a flag ceremony at Crista, headquartered in Shoreline. The faded, darkened, tattered flag came down, and the new, bright, clean one ran up the pole. About 50 residents attended the dignified ceremony.

Crista, formed in 1948, describes itself as a family for seven Christian ministries. One of these is Senior Living (see http://www.cristaseniors.com). The quarters for seniors who can live independently are located at Cristwood Park on the southwest part of the 56-acre Crista campus. This is where the worn-out flag flew. And this is where Elizabeth Hudson, Activities Coordinator, organized and emceed the flag ceremony. She said it was the residents themselves who suggested that the old flag be replaced. VFW Post 1040 furnished the Color Guard, consisting of two members to lower, fold, unfold, and raise the flags, and me to sound the two bugle calls.

The well-known King’s Schools (K-12 education) is among the ministries located on campus (see http://www.kingsschools.org).

Photos are courtesy of Crista Senior Living. To enlarge any photo, simply click on it.

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: bugle, bugler, call, Crista, Cristwood, Elizabeth Hudson, King's Schools, Retreat, Shoreline, To the Color, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »

VFW Post 1040 Hosts Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Park, Lynnwood

Posted by glennled on June 19, 2014

On 26 May, when we arrived at Veterans Park in downtown Lynnwood near the public library, the flag of the United States was at half mast. It remained there only until noon, when it was raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The symbolism of this is for us, the living, to remember and honor those who came before and sacrificed their all, while we resolve to continue the fight for libery and justice for all…that they shall not have died in vain. That’s part of America, the beautiful.

Many attendees at this year’s ceremony said it was the best ever. For example, the Northwest Junior Pipe Band, under the direction of Kevin Auld, are getting so good that they are fund-raising in order to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 2015. Please see http://www.nwjpb.org and http://www.theworlds.co.uk. At this ceremony, they played “Scotland, the Brave,” “The Rowan Tree,” “God Bless America,” and “Amazing Grace.”

Service flag, WWII-era, indicating three family members in military service, one of whom died during the war

A special wreath was laid this year by Myra Rintamaki, a Gold Star mother, in honor of the fallen. Her son, Cpl. Stephen Rintamaki, US Marine Corps, was killed in action in Iraq on 16 September 2004. The Gold Star Mothers Club is comprised of such mothers. Its origin comes from World War I, which the USA entered in 1917. George Vaughn Seibold, 23, an American, flew British planes with the 148th U.S. Aero Squadron of the British Royal Flying Corps. That prompted his mother, Grace Darling Seibold, to do community service, visiting returning servicemen in hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. Suddenly, his letters stopped, and on 11 October 1918, George’s wife in Chicago received a box marked, “Effects of deceased Officer 1st Lt. George Vaughn Seibold.” He’d been killed in action in an air battle on 26 August. His body was never identified.

Gold Star Mothers stamp, a commemorative issue in 1948

Grace organized a group of grieving mothers whose sons had lost their lives in military service. During that war, families of service members displayed a banner, known as a service flag, in a window of their homes. The banner is defined as a white field surrounded by a red border. A blue star on the white field represents each family member serving in the Armed Forces of the USA during time of war or hostilities. A gold star represents a family member who died during service, regardless of the cause. On 4 June 1928, twenty-five mothers established the national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. It continues to operate today, commonly known as the Gold Star Mothers Club. To learn more, please see http://www.goldstarmoms.com and http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Depts/WA_ID_OR_AK/WashChapt/WashChapt.htm.

Photos by Nancy MacDonald. To enlarge a photo, simply click on it.

: After warmups and tuning, Glenn (Taps) and Robert (Echo) await the ceremony

: Legion of Honor from the Nile Shrine Center

: Northwest Junior Pipe Band processes to the ceremony site at Veterans Park, Lynnwood

: Guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Raymond Coffey, USAR/WSG/USAVR, a member of VFW Post 1040

: Jim Smith, former Lynnwood City Councilman

: WW II veterans lay a wreath

: Myra Rintamaki, a Gold Star mother, lays a wreath

: Northwest Junior Pipe Band

: Robert, trumpeter, Inglemoor High School, Kenmore

: Glenn Ledbetter, VFW 1040 Post Bugler

: Ceremony site in Veterans Park, Lynnwood, just south of the public library

: Three relatives, each a veteran, Veterans Park, Lynnwood

Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Brig. Gen. Raymond Coffey, bugle, bugler, echo taps, Gold Star Mothers Club, Inglemoor High School, Jim Smith, Lynnwood, Memorial Day, Northwest Junior Pipe Band, trumpeter, Veterans Park, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »

Bugle Calls at Memorial Day Ceremony, Edmonds Community College

Posted by glennled on June 17, 2014

“From Boots to Books,” Veterans Monument, Edmonds Community College

On 21 May, Edmonds Community College (ECC) held a ceremony to honor those who died during military service–that’s what Memorial Day is all about. As an Honor Guard member of VFW Post 1040, I was fortunate to be a participant. I’m the post bugler, and I got to sound three bugle calls: “Assembly,” “To the Color,” and “Taps.”

Chris Szarek arranged the impressive, dignified program. Chris is the first director of the Veterans Resource Center at ECC, which was established in 2012, to “assist veterans in navigating enrollment, help them access educational and financial benefits, and offer other resources while veterans attend college.” The program started in the Black Box Theatre in Mukilteo Hall, shifted outdoors to the bronze monument entitled “From Boots to Books,” and concluded with a flag-lowering ceremony at the flag plaza. Incidentally, the monument was unveiled in June, 2010.

The guest speaker was Michael G. Reagan, a Vietnam veteran and local artist who has drawn portraits of ~3800 fallen military men and women as part of his Fallen Heroes Project. Please see my post of 19 November 2011 (find it in the Archives in the left-hand column) and his website, http://www.fallenheroesproject.org. Reagan has helped raise more than $10 million for a long list of charities.

Leonard Martin, Guest of Honor, U.S. Army veteran of WW II

The Guest of Honor at the ceremony was Leonard Martin (89) of Snohomish, WA. As a corporal in the 104th Infantry Division, “The Timberwolves,” U.S. Army, he landed at Utah Beach in Normandy, in September, 1944. They fought their way up to Holland, and he was captured on 31 October 1944. He spent the next six months as a POW in a German camp. He was liberated on 13 April, and V-E Day came on 8 May 1945.

Dr. Jean Hernandez, President, Edmonds Community College

Another featured speaker was Dr. Jean Hernandez, president of ECC since January, 2011. How different is that from 1967-69! That’s when, as a Vietnam veteran, I was an Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Washington, teaching NROTC on campus. The UW president would never have spoken at one of our memorial ceremonies. This was the time of violent campus protests about the Vietnam War. In fact, on 18 September 1968, I came to work and found that Clark Hall had been the target of an arson fire–someone had attempted to burn down the NROTC building! The fire did about $100,000 in damage.

So, thanks to Dr. Hernandez and others, there is a Veterans Resource Center and a veterans monument at ECC, and on this 21 May, she spoke eloquently about Memorial Day. I hope this ceremony is an annual event.

Photos are courtesy of the Veterans Resource Center at ECC. Some were taken by Todd Clayton and others by Susie Beresford. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.