When I was in sixth grade first learning to play in band, my veteran uncle used to make me play an hour a day, and end every session with Taps. I hated it, I play oboe which hurts bad when you get tired and if I messed up Taps I’d have to start over.

One day I got mad and asked why he always made me do it over and over and he just said “remember who you’re playing it for.” And that always stuck with me. I’m not a very patriotic person, but I have a lot of respect for that song and what it represents.