Playing in honor of those fallen

EUGENE, Ore. - Every Memorial Day Weekend the sound of taps can be heard from the hillside of the Eugene Masonic Cemetery.

Each day over the holiday weekend, retired Army veteran Adrian Vaaler walks over to the cemetery and plays Taps at noon.

"I grew up next to the cemetery, so the cemetery has a special meaning for me," Vaaler said.

Vaaler said it's an honor to play where so many heroes he never knew are buried.

"There are Civil War veterans here, World War I, World War II, and Korean veterans," Vaaler said.

As he plays his trumpet, he said he also remembers those he did know who lost their lives fighting for their country.

"It's the memories of my high school friends who died in Vietnam," Vaaler said.

Taps is an official bugle call that has been around 150 years.

"It has staying power," Vaaler said. "A lot of people enjoy hearing it."

Vaaler has been playing Taps at the cemetery every Memorial Day weekend for the last decade.

As long as there is a Memorial Day, Vaaler said he plans to keep delivering that same tune.

"As long as I can for the following years, I'll keep coming here and playing," Vaaler said. "It's very meaningful to me."