Twenty-Four Notes That Changed Everything
She was too late to play Taps for her great-grandfather. So she made sure thousands of other families would never have to settle for a recording.
Katie Prior was only 10 years old when her great-grandfather, a World War II veteran, entered hospice care. Her family spoke quietly about how meaningful it would be if Katie—who had just begun learning the trumpet—could play Taps at his funeral. It was an old military tradition, dating back to the Civil War: twenty-four solemn notes played over a veteran’s grave, a final salute that says, your service mattered.
Katie practiced with all her heart, hoping she could learn the piece in time. But she didn’t. Her great-grandfather passed away before she was ready.
At the funeral, Taps came from a small speaker. The melody was correct, but to Katie it felt empty. She was devastated—not only by her loss, but by the missed chance to honor him with live music. She had wanted to give him something personal, something filled with respect and love.
Years later, when Katie was 15, she learned a painful truth: more than 1,500 veterans die every day in the United States, and there are not enough military buglers to play Taps at every funeral. As a result, most families hear a recording instead of live music—just as her family had.
That realization changed everything.
Determined to make a difference, Katie founded the Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Her mission was simple but powerful: to recruit and train young trumpeters across the country to volunteer at veterans’ funerals in their own communities, ensuring that families who wanted live Taps could have it—free of charge.
Katie created a structured training program, offering in-person workshops and online lessons. Volunteers learned not only the music, but also military funeral etiquette—how to stand, when to salute, and how to show respect to grieving families. This was not just about playing notes; it was about honoring service with dignity.
Since its founding, the Youth Trumpet & Taps Corps has grown to include more than 120 young musicians across 30 states. These volunteers, aged 14 to 23, give their time to stand at gravesides and play Taps for veterans they never knew.
“You are paying tribute to someone you may not even know,” Katie says. “But that person served your country, and they deserve to be honored.”
Katie herself has played at dozens of funerals. Each time, she thinks of her great-grandfather. She believes that every note she plays for another veteran is, in some small way, a tribute to him.
Today, because of one young girl’s determination, more veterans are being honored with live music at their final farewell. What began as heartbreak became a mission. What was once a missed opportunity became a legacy of service.
Katie Prior was too late to play Taps for her great-grandfather—but she was right on time to make sure thousands of others are remembered with the respect they deserve.
