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Posts Tagged ‘Getzen’
“I Stand for the Flag” at Merrill Gardens, Renton Centre on 23 May for Early Memorial Day Celebration
Posted by glennled on May 25, 2023
Posted in Shows at Retirement Homes | Tagged: Austin Custom Brass (ACB), bugle calls, cornet, Getzen, horns, Jupiter, marches, Merrill Gardens at Renton Centre, pocket trumpet, retirement community, songs, Super Olds, trumpet | Comments Off on “I Stand for the Flag” at Merrill Gardens, Renton Centre on 23 May for Early Memorial Day Celebration
“Taps” for Army Reservist, Loren Montgomery (“Monty”) Holmes (93) at Evergreen-Washelli in Seattle
Posted by glennled on May 10, 2023
The Holmes family was proud, among other many other things, that Loren Montgomery (“Monty”) Holmes was a veteran. They wanted a live bugler (not a taped recording) to sound “Taps” at his memorial service to be held in the chapel at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home in north Seattle on Sunday, 7 May.
Where can you find a good, live bugler? The funeral director, Stacie Sandritter, contacted VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood for a referral. The call then passed to me, the Post Bugler. Eureka—networking works again!
As I listened to the pastor, family members, and friends pay tribute to Monty, I learned that he was a man of action and experience, with many interests and skills. He was indeed the patriarch of those who were close to him. They spoke in high praise of his great influence for good. Apparently, he was an open, friendly man with standards and a temper but also one with a good sense of humor who inspired others and did not hold a grudge. They spoke of his faith and love.
After graduating from Ballard High School, he played football for the semi-Pro team, “Seattle Ramblers,” and he served in the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Lawton (now Discovery Park in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle). He was the original owner of Athletic Awards Co. in Seattle where it still stands today.
He was born 29 November 1929, and died on 8 April 2023–going on 94 years of age! He was interred on 9 May 2023 at Evergreen Memorial Park (see http://www.Washelli.com).
Inside the Chapel at the close of the memorial service, I used my Getzen bugle to sound “Taps” and afterwards, rendered the slow hand-salute for another comrade who has passed. It was the 231st time that I’ve been honored to do it.
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: bugle, bugler, Getzen, Taps | Leave a Comment »
Armed Forces Day Draws Me to Merrill Gardens at the University in Seattle
Posted by glennled on June 1, 2022
Until this year, I’d never been asked to perform my one-hour trumpet show, “I Stand for the Flag,” on Armed Forces Day. But that changed when Mindy Milton, Active Living Program Director, booked me to return for the second time to Merrill Gardens at the University in Seattle on Saturday, 21 May 2022. (Please see my blog article of 15 August 2021.)
I played 24 patriotic marches, songs, and bugle calls on four instruments: my Getzen trumpet, Super Olds cornet, Getzen field trumpet (bugle), and Jupiter pocket trumpet. The repertoire includes “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” “Tattoo” (a bugle call), the official songs of all five branches, “The Liberty Bell” (a march by John Philip Sousa), “Over There,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” The audience sang along and laughed at a few jokes.
How does Armed Forces Day differ from other military holidays and observance days? It celebrates all five branches of the military on the third Saturday of May, annually. The five branches are the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The first four are within the Department of Defense (DOD), created in 1947. The Coast Guard is within the Department of Homeland Security, created in 2002. The Space Development Agency is one of many agencies within the DOD.
Armed Forces Day was created on 31 August 1949 when Harry S. Truman was President. It was first celebrated on 20 May 1950—five years after WWII ended and one month before the beginning of the Korean War.
The longest, continuously-running, Armed Forces Day Parade in the USA is held in Bremerton, Washington. This year, Bremerton celebrated its 73rd Armed Forces Day Parade.
Major wars and conflicts in which the U.S. military participated:
- Revolutionary War
- Indian Wars of the 1790s
- War of 1812
- American Civil War
- Spanish-American War of 1898
- World War I
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Gulf War
- Afghanistan
Numerical facts:
- About 800 military bases outside the U.S.
- About 1.2 million active-duty personnel in the U.S. military
- About 800,000 reserves
- About 18 million living veterans
- More than 81,600 POW/MIA personnel, mostly from WWII
Photos are courtesy of Merrill Gardens at the University. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
Posted in Shows at Retirement Homes | Tagged: bugle, cornet, Getzen, marches, Merrill Gardens at the University, retirement community, songs, Super Olds, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
13th Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Veterans Cemetery in North Seattle
Posted by glennled on December 31, 2021
The third Saturday of December was the 18th, and that could mean only one thing to a bugler—it was time for the annual Christmas wreath-laying ceremony, Wreaths Across America (WAA). Never mind that it was raining steadily. At 9 a.m., the President and Executive Director of the Veterans Memorial Wreath Foundation, Lorraine Zimmerman, announced over the loud speaker, “Bugler, sound ‘Assembly!'” And so I did for the 11th time. Then the Color Guard of the Navy ROTC program at the University of Washington presented the colors, and the crowd of about 200 patriots pledged allegiance to the flag. Chaplain Linda Haptonstall gave the invocation.
At about 9:15 came the main program segment, the Ceremonial Wreath Dedication. One by one, eight men placed and saluted small flags on eight wreaths in memory of and gratitude for those who have fallen in service to America. After the benediction, the Honor Guard of VFW Post 1040 of Lynnwood fired a three-volley rifle salute, immediately followed by “Echo Taps,” sounded by me and Laurence Stusser. He used his Olds trumpet, and I used my Getzen bugle. The colors were retired, and after the benediction by the Chaplin, this 13th annual ceremony concluded. Similar ceremonies were held at more than 3,100 locations nationwide on this day.
But the local event was not over—there was more to be done. The crowd voluntarily began laying 3,000 wreaths on the gravestones in the Veterans Memorial Park at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery in north Seattle. VMWF has the ambitious goal of adorning all 5,000 veterans’ gravestones someday. To do that, more sponsors are needed. A donation of $15 sponsors one wreath; two, $30; five, $75 (most popular); ten, $150.
VMWF was founded not only to conduct this ceremony and lay these wreaths but also to teach coming generations about the cost and value of our freedom. VMWF plans to provide educational scholarships soon to military dependents and ROTC students. For more information, please see http://www.vmwf.org.
The WAA was officially formed in 2007 but originated in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery. Its mission is to remember, honor and teach. Read more at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/19064/Overview/relatedld=17280. Also, use the Search box in the upper right column of this blog to find 8 articles with photos about past ceremonies here. Simply enter the word “wreath.”
Photos are courtesy of Phil Onishi, https://philonishiphotography.smugmug.com/Veterans-Memorial-Wreath-Foundation-Dec-18-2021/n-tVDwMv. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
Overview, Ceremony and Wreath Laying
VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard
U.W. NROTC Color Guard
Veterans, Participants, Volunteers, Attendees, and Scenes
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, bugler, echo taps, Getzen, Olds | Leave a Comment »
Memorial Day Essentials on 31 May at Veterans Park, Lynnwood
Posted by glennled on August 14, 2021
For the second year in a row, due to Covid restrictions, VFW Post 1040 performed a shortened, non-advertised Memorial Day commemoration ceremony at Veterans Park in Lynnwood. Normally, the ceremony would draw 200 or more people, and there would be music and speeches and presentations and honors and rifle salutes and “Taps” and more. It would take a half hour or more, and then at noon, the flag would be raised from half-staff to full-staff, accompanied by “To the Color” on the bugle.
This year, only the essentials were kept on the program:
- “Amazing Grace” by Piper Kevin Auld and two members of the Northwest Junior Pipe Band;
- “Armed Forces Medley” on the P.A. system;
- Laying of the wreaths by Patricia McCarty and John Beam, Commander, VFW Post 1040;
- Rifle salute by the Post Honor Guard;
- “Taps” by me; and
- Raising the flag to the top at noon.
Please see http://www.vfw1040.org, http://www.nwjpb.org, and http://www.goldstarmomwa.org.
The City of Lynnwood recorded it all (except the flag raising) in this 9:19-minute video (please see https://youtu.be/lWCOAdCS3Jg). As you’ll see and hear, I lead off with the bugle call, “Assembly,” on my Getzen Field Trumpet (bugle) and sound “Taps” at the 8:05-minute.
We’re all hoping that on Veterans Day, 11 November, we’ll be able to resume celebrating with the customary, full program involving more people and organizations, open to the public.
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Amazing Grace, Assembly, bugle, Getzen, Getzen Field Trumpet, music, NW Junior Pipe Band, piper, Taps, To the Color | Leave a Comment »
Second Trumpet Show at Overlake Terrace Retirement Community, Redmond
Posted by glennled on May 16, 2021
This spring, Overlake Terrace Assisted & Senior Living, a retirement community in Redmond, invited me back for a second trumpet show, 28 months after my first performance there shortly before Christmas in 2018 (please see my blog post of 23 December 2018 in the Archives in left column). Then Covid shut everything down, everywhere in 2020.
That first show was “Things Remembered,” featuring mostly Christmas carols and songs. This one, on 23 April, was “Showtune Favorites,” featuring hit songs from musicals and movies. I have six different shows, each with about two dozen familiar songs from the residents’ era.
For these shows, I use my Getzen trumpet, Super Olds cornet, Jupiter pocket trumpet, and (sometimes) Getzen bugle.
On Memorial Day, 31 May, I’ll be back there again in my VFW uniform, to sound “Taps” at their ceremony. I’ll use my beautiful Getzen bugle.
For more information about Overlake Terrace, please see Overlake Terrace Assisted & Senior Living in Redmond, WA (stellarliving.com).
Posted in Shows at Retirement Homes | Tagged: bugle, carols, cornet, Getzen, musicals, Overlake Terrace, retirement community, songs, Super Olds, Taps, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Bugle Calls at National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony in Shoreline
Posted by glennled on April 7, 2021
Bugler, VFW Post 1040, Lynnwood, WA. Photo by CPO Ronald A. Jones, LAC-USV-JSC. 
Bugler, Boy Scout Troop 312, Edmonds, WA. Photo by CPO Ronald A. Jones, LAC-USV-JSC.
President Barack Obama proclaimed 29 May 2012 as Vietnam Veterans Day, and by law in 2017, it became National Vietnam War Veterans Day. To my chagrin, both events slipped by me, a Vietnam War Veteran and a member of both the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and VVA (Vietnam Veterans Association). I first heard of it when I was asked to sound “Echo Taps” at the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza on 27 March 2021, two days before the official date (29th).
The keynote speaker, Col. David Gibson, USAF (Ret.), a Vietnam veteran, spoke of the Three Big Lies about the Vietnam War; the politically-driven, overly restrictive Rules of Engagement; and the imperative that America never enter a war without the intent and will to win it. He delivered his own “Welcome Home” message to the Vietnam veterans attending this ceremony. [“9-11” radically changed the American people’s attitude toward our military.]
Who would join me, as VFW Post 1040 Bugler, and sound the “Echo” part of “Taps”? The same Boy Scout from Troop 312 in Edmonds who did it with me at this same place on Independence Day last year (please see my previous post of 29 July 2020). This year, however, he played the “Echo” on his Getzen bugle, not his trumpet. And thereby hangs a tale.
Our scout has often sounded “Taps” at funeral services with the Post 1040 Honor Guard. That was suspended, however, when, last August, he had a terrible accident on his mountain bike. He took a jump on the trail and crashed. His injuries were quite serious and have taken all these many months to heal. Frank Martinez, Commander of the Honor Guard of VFW Post 1040, polled the members for ideas of a gift we could present to the boy. I suggested a bugle and found one, a beauty, owned by Joe Fitzgerald, Commander of VFW Post 3063 in Ballard. We had it engraved, “HONOR GUARD – VFW POST 1040” and presented it to him. He loves it, as I do mine (see my post of 4 May 2015). These bugles play so easily with such a beautiful, full, solid tone.
Covid-19 put the clamps on most of my performances in public for a whole year. The church orchestra in which I play is still on hold after the original lockdown in March 2020 cancelled in-person services. Same for performances of my one-hour trumpet shows at retirement communities–they all cancelled their weekly musical entertainment hours. I no longer drove to my clients’ homes to teach private trumpet lessons. We switched to online Zoom lessons. Throughout the 2020 summer, I did no busking in Edmonds to raise money for the VFW. Skyview Middle School, where I teach beginning trumpet class, also switched to Zoom instructrion in the fall.
Only now are things opening up a little. Now that I’ve had my two Modera vaccination shots for Covid, I’m booked at several retirement communities again, playing one or another of my six trumpet shows. And several military ceremonies are coming up–Armed Forces Day (15 May), Memorial Day (31 May), Flag Day (14 June), and Independence Day (4 July). We’re easing back into performances, and that means I’ll be posting here again, starting with this one.
Photos are by Joe Fitzgerald, Richard Rees, and CPO Ronald A. Jones, LAC-USV-JSC.
Hand salute during “Echo Taps.” Photo by CPO Ronald A. Jones, LAC-USV-JSC. 
Symphony Ames, singer of the National Anthem and “God Bless America.” Photo by Joe Fitzgerald. 
VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard awaits the ceremony. Photo by Joe Fitzgerald. 
Vietnam veterans. Photo by Richard Rees.
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: bugle, echo taps, Getzen, orchestra, tone, trumpet, VFW Post 1040, VFW Post 3063 | Leave a Comment »
Coronavirus Forces Another of My “Taps” Videos to be Used in a Virtual Memorial Day Service at Covenant Living at the Shores, Mercer Island
Posted by glennled on July 18, 2020
Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos, Chaplain, Covenant Living at the Shores (CLS), Mercer Island, asked for a video of me playing “Taps,” so he could include it in the 2020 Memorial Day ceremony at this prestigious, waterfront retirement community. The ceremony had to be virtual, of course, because of Covid-19 restrictions on the limited size of gatherings. The staff would integrate my video into their longer, ceremonial video.
So I chose to make my video among the 5,000 military gravestones in Veterans Cemetery at Evergreen-Washelli in north Seattle, where seven recipients of the Medal of Honor are buried. Nancy MacDonald, a lifelong family friend of Greg, recorded the video below on Friday, 15 May. Please turn on your sound and click on the Play arrow for this “Taps.” The video will rotate itself correctly when it begins to play.
To view William Rhinehart’s video of lovely flowers blooming at CLS on Memorial Day, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Jt563lKNs (less than four minutes).
To view the complete video, “Memorial Day Service of Remembrance,” at CLS, including my “Taps” on my Getzen bugle (at the end, minute 57:35), please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc7mI7VbRTw&feature=youtu.be ((almost one hour and two minutes).
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: bugle, Covenant Living at the Shores, Evergreen-Washelli, Getzen, Taps | Leave a Comment »
Christmas Trumpet Show at Quail Park of Lynnwood
Posted by glennled on February 11, 2020
Quail Park of Lynnwood
Along driveway to hilltop entrance to Quail Park of Lynnwood
Want quiet privacy in the city? Try Quail Park of Lynnwood (QPL), where I played my one-hour Christmas trumpet show, “Things Remembered,” on 15 December 2019. About 25 residents attended; meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks played the Carolina Panthers, and others watched the game elsewhere on TV. The award-winning QPL is situated on a hill between Highway 99 and I-5, but you’d never know it if you didn’t see the sign pointing up the driveway through the trees. Drive up there into the sunshine at the top. 
When I did so, I found that they are building new facilities and enlarging the complex. QPL offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. There are 85 existing apartments and 45 memory care suites. The expansion will add another 96 apartments, along with 26 luxury cottages. Please see https://www.quailparkoflynnwood.com.
Candace Hartzell, Life Enhancement Director, invited me to play there. My “Things Remembered” show is one of six that I perform. It consists of 25 familiar pieces—14 Christmas songs and 11 others, mostly from popular musicals and movies from the residents’ era. I used my Getzen trumpet (c.1977) and Super Olds cornet (1954), along with two mutes, and my Yamaha Allen Vizzutti mouthpiece.
Veterans Administration Benefits
I have now played my trumpet shows at 15 different retirement communities from Issaquah to Edmonds, and QPL’s website is the first one I’ve seen that includes information which encourages veterans to use their benefits in order to live there. Here is some of that information:
Types of Benefits Administered by Veterans Benefits Administration
- Education benefits
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Home loans
- Health care
- Life insurance
- Burial benefits
- Service-connected compensation and non-service connected pension
- Survivor’s Benefits (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and Death Pension)
Additional Benefits Available to Veterans
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Preference in federal hiring
- Unemployment insurance (if actively seeking work)
- Military retirement, medical severance and separation pay
- State programs including tuition assistance, emergency funds, PTSD and grief counseling, soldiers’ homes and elder care, fiduciary and guardianship, license plates, hunting and fishing licenses, park passes, burial plots, claim assistance, access to discharge papers and other Veteran records
For detailed information about Service-Connected (S/A) Compensation, please see https://www.quailparkoflynnwood.com/va-benefits/
Partner Communities
QPL is part of the Living Care Lifestyles family of retirement communities. Living Care Lifestyles offers Senior Care and Memory Care in Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas and Washington. There are three Living Care communities in WA: Browns Point (Tacoma); West Seattle; and Lynnwood. The one in Lynnwood has received the Readers’ Choice Award for Independent Living from the Everett Herald.
Retirement and Assisted Living Apartments
- Option for color customization of accent walls
- Full-size kitchens
- Major stainless steel appliances – range, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher
- Lovely wood cabinetry and granite countertops – kitchen and bath
- Full-size washer and dryer
- Walk-in closets
- Walk-in showers with seat
- Kitchenettes in studios
- Air-conditioning in all apartments
These Retirement and Assisted Living Apartments come in four floor plans:
- Studio – 364-598 s.f.
- One Bedroom – 592-794 s.f.
- One Bedroom Deluxe – 818-1,014 s.f.
- Two Bedroom – 893-1,031 s.f.
Memory Care apts (23 suites) come in two floor plans:
- Adjoining Shower – 374 s.f.
- Private – 374-469 s.f.
Expansion floor plans fall into four types: EAL Suites (377 to 399 s.f./unit); Coho Studio Suite (499 s.f./unit); Chinook Suites (579 to 582 s.f./unit); and Sockeye Suite (828 s.f./unit).
The amenities at Lynnwood include pool, bistro and pub, movie theater, pet friendly, salon, 12-hour anytime dining, daily nurse, 24-hour awake team, maintenance 7 days a week, weekly housekeeping and linen service, concierge, and transportation.
Photos are courtesy of Quail Park of Lynnwood, including existing facilities and renderings of expansion facilities. For more photos, see https://www.quailparkoflynnwood.com/photos/. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
Existing Facilities
Renderings of Expansion Facilities Under Construction
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- Entrance
Posted in Shows at Retirement Homes | Tagged: Allen Vizzutti, cornet, Getzen, mouthpiece, mutes, Quail Park, retirement community, Super Olds, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Third Trumpet Show at Covenant Living at the Shores, Mercer Island
Posted by glennled on February 4, 2020
Lake Washington view, courtesy of Covenant Living at the Shores, Mercer Island
“I lived on Mercer Island for 34 years before moving to Edmonds.” So said I to the 25 residents of Covenant Living at the Shores (CLS) who came on 20 December to Fellowship Hall to hear my Christmas season trumpet show, “Things Remembered.” It was my third performance at this lovely, waterfront retirement community. I came back at the kind invitation from Roxanne Helleren, Resident Life Director, and Kathryn Middleton, Life Enrichment Coordinator.
This one-hour show features 25 well-known, popular songs. Fourteen of them are Christmas songs which are mixed in with others that come mostly from hit musicals and movies. The songs are carefully chosen to match the typical phases of our lives: single, married, kids, family Christmas celebrations, empty nesting, and retirement. As I narrate, we remember the good things that we all experience, ponder, and are grateful for. The audience sings and hums the tunes, and I tell a few jokes. I used my Getzen trumpet and Super Olds cornet, my Harmon and straight mutes, and my Yamaha Allen Vizzutti mouthpiece.
I’ve written blog articles, with photos, after each of my previous shows here. Please use the Archives column on the left to find them and enjoy reading about those shows and CLS (formerly Covenant Shores):
- “Showtune Favorites”—published on 24 May 2019
- “I Stand for the Flag”—published on 16 July 2019
CLS’s website is http://www.covlivingshores.org.
Posted in Shows at Retirement Homes | Tagged: Allen Vizzutti, cornet, Covenant Living at the Shores, Getzen, moutnpiece, mute, Olds, retirement community, songs, trumpet, Yamaha | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 