Maintainer honors the fallen

Published Dec. 17, 2013
By Senior Airman Taylor Curry
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- During many funerals, the base honor guard performs Taps, a musical piece usually played from a bugle or trumpet, to honor a fallen veteran. Most of the time, the honor guard team will use a bugle with a recording placed inside because finding a live musician with the skill to play is hard to come by. But with Senior Airman David Peterson, no recording is needed.

Peterson, a KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief with the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is in his fourth year of active duty serving in the Air Force. His primary duties involve maintaining, servicing and inspecting KC-135 aircraft.

Peterson served a tour with the base honor guard during the summer of 2012, and while performing duties such as folding flags, firing rifles and presenting colors, he rediscovered a lost talent: playing Taps.

"It all started when I was a kid and asked my grandfather if I could barrow his trumpet," said Peterson. "I started playing in the fifth grade and continued all throughout high school. It was not until I joined honor guard when I realized I had an opportunity to bring a skill I had to the flight."

While traveling all around the Northwest region answering the call of his honor guard duties, Peterson filled in as the "bugler" of his ceremonies performed. Though he didn't play an actual bugle, he excelled with playing Taps on his trumpet.

"The day of a ceremony, I will clean and polish my trumpet," Peterson said. "After a quick practice, I then get into place. I'll wait till I hear the three volleys of the rifles, and then begin playing."

The impression that the honor guard gives is what the family really remembers, so it is important that Taps is performed to the utmost ability, he added.

"After I'm finished playing, I present one final salute and exit the ceremonial grounds," he said.

Since his rotation with the honor guard has ended, Peterson continues his work as a crew chief, while standing by to play Taps if the honor guard calls upon him.

Aside from his primary work duties, his other duties include taking care of his wife and two daughters at home.

"I would want to play the trumpet or violin," said Emily, Peterson's oldest daughter. "Since my dad plays the trumpet, he could teach me and we could play together."

Peterson states that music is very important in his family, and passing down that gift to his children and seeing their joy is indescribable.

"I usually practice playing several times a week," he added. "My daughters are usually the ones who determine when I practice because they love hearing me play."

Last year, Peterson volunteered to become a member of Bugles Across America. BAA is a non-profit organization that was created in 2000 with a mission of honoring all who served. If a family requests a live bugler to play Taps during a ceremony, BAA is contacted and a request is sent out to available members in the area. Peterson can be contacted at any moment for his services to be rendered for a fallen veteran.

"Last month, I lost my grandfather to cancer after a long and brave battle," he stated. "He served in the Navy during WWII and was eligible to receive military honors at his funeral. If it wasn't for the Air Force, I don't know if I would have been able to pick up the trumpet again and play Taps at his ceremony."

Since joining the Air Force, Peterson has performed Taps at over 50 ceremonies.

"When I'm playing Taps at a ceremony, pride and honor are the only words that would describe how I feel," he said. "We hear Taps played every night at Fairchild, and understanding the meaning and value of this song sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it."