Samford professor leads monthlong ‘Real Taps' tribute at Alabama National Cemetery

Alabama National Cemetery will hear the sound of live Taps every day throughout September as a Samford University professor leads a monthlong effort honoring the veterans buried there. Matt Burford, a Samford alumnus and adjunct professor, organized '30 Days of Real Taps,' recruiting volunteer musicians to visit the Montevallo cemetery each afternoon through Sept. 30 and perform the traditional 24-note military call. 'Too many families still hear a recording instead of a person,' Burford said. 'We want every veteran at rest on those grounds to be honored with the 24 notes played live.' Burford founded the Alabama nonprofit Real Taps for Real Heroes to connect trained trumpet, cornet and bugle players with military families seeking live musicians for veterans' funerals and ceremonies. The effort grew out of a shortage of musicians available to perform Taps, which can leave families relying on recorded versions during military honors. Burford began performing at veterans' funerals in his early 20s after playing trumpet through high school and college. While he did not serve in the military himself, both of his grandfathers served during World War II, and he grew up near Fort McClellan in Anniston. He later became involved with Bugles Across America before establishing Real Taps for Real Heroes to recruit and prepare more Alabama musicians for the service. 'Live, real time, incarnational playing is better,' Burford said. 'You're doing it to serve.' The organization particularly encourages high school and college musicians to participate. Burford has also established a $1,000 college scholarship for student musicians involved in the program. Burford, who earned both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Samford's Beeson Divinity School, now teaches in the university's Core Texts Program. He has already recruited performers for most days of September but is still looking for additional musicians to fill remaining dates. Each volunteer will perform Taps once at 4:30 p.m. at Alabama National Cemetery, located at 3133 Highway 119 in Montevallo. 'Our veterans gave everything they had,' Burford said. 'These 24 notes are a small way to answer that gift with a living voice instead of a speaker.' Musicians interested in participating can contact Burford at [email protected]. Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].