APPLETON, WISCONSIN (May 13, 2021) — Fleet Farm is teaming up with Taps for Veterans and CBS News in keeping the spirit of Memorial Day alive by participating in the second annual Taps Across America. On Monday, May 31, buglers will sound Taps at 3 p.m. near the flagpole of five Fleet Farm stores during “Fleet Farm Salutes Taps Across America.” Participating store locations in 2021 are Appleton and West Bend, Wisconsin; Hermantown, Minnesota; Sioux City, Iowa; and Rapid City, South Dakota.
Taps Across America debuted in 2020 when CBS news “On the Road” correspondent Steve Hartman teamed up with retired Air Force bugler Jari Villanueva, founder of Taps for Veterans. Together the two men invited buglers and musicians to sound Taps from their front stoops at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. Held in lieu of canceled celebrations, picnics and parades, Taps Across America offered an opportunity to pause for a moment to pay tribute to fallen service members. More than 10,000 musicians participated.
“Many of our team members saw the footage of Taps performed by musicians of all ages and from all walks of life either on CBS Evening News or on a local CBS broadcast,” said Heath Ashenfelter, Executive Vice President for Fleet Farm. “Fleet Farm was compelled to get involved when we learned that Jari and CBS wanted to continue Taps Across America as a tradition every Memorial Day.”
Fleet Farm is partnering with Taps for Veterans to find some of the nation’s best buglers to sound Taps at participating Fleet Farm stores. As part of this National Moment of Remembrance, at 3 p.m. the stores will observe a minute of silence followed by a single bugler sounding Taps alongside a local color guard.
The public is invited to observe Taps being played at participating Fleet Farm stores. Musicians across the country are also encouraged to sound Taps on their front lawns, porches, and driveways at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, May 31. For more information, visit TapsAcrossAmerica.org or follow Taps Across America on social media with hashtags #CBSTaps, #TapsAcrossAmerica, #FleetFarmTaps, #TapsBugler, #Taps and #TapsForVeterans.
ABOUT FLEET FARM
Fleet Farm has served hardworking Midwestern families since 1955, offering a unique mix of high-quality, value-priced merchandise and services for active, outdoor, suburban and farm communities. Customers can find fishing, hunting and outdoor products, auto parts, farm and pet supplies, home improvement and household goods, clothing and footwear, toys and food, plus services like gas, car wash and auto repair. Fleet Farm has 47 stores located across the Midwest. The company’s headquarters is in Appleton, Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.fleetfarm.com and https://www.facebook.com/fleetfarm.