Over 10,000 people were expected to join together at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to play “Taps” for Taps Across America 2024. Among those people were two local men, John Blake, a bugler for the Kewanee Veterans Council and Kewanee High School Band Director Alex Binek.
The two trumpet players met on the bridge at Windmont Park for the patriotic pause that honors the nation’s veterans each year.
Taps Across America began in 2015 by retired Air Force bugler Jari Villanueve and took off nationally in 2020 during the pandemic when picnics, parades and other celebrations were canceled, according to the event’s website.
The national annual event is in its fifth year and provides an opportunity for all musicians of any age or ability the honor of sounding live Taps in recognition of the sacrifice of those veterans that have passed in service for their country.
Blake has participated in the event before, but this was Binek’s first year. The men faced east as they played. See the video below:
