During the Civil War Major General Daniel Butterfield of the Union Army comprised Taps by modifying an earlier Bugle Call, Tatoo, as a way to honor his men and to signify extinguish lights each evening. The new melody quickly spread throughout the Union and Confederate Army's.
"Taps" is the Official Song of Remembrance as recognized by the U.S. Congress during 2012 and is, to this day, played each evening on Military Installations to signify extinguish lights or more simply, time to go to bed.
Since 1891, Taps has been used at Military Funerals to signify burial of a Military Member or Veteran.
