Lake of the Ozarks Military Bugler To Perform At National WWI Memorial In Washington D.C.

Lake of the Ozarks veteran Mike McCain will sound Taps in Washington, D.C. at the National WWI Memorial & Museum on June 3, 2026.

McCain, 78, is the Sunrise Beach Honor Guard Bugler for American Legion Zach Wheat Post No. 624. He served in the Army National Guard and Reserves Military Police from 1970 to 1976 in Iowa and Missouri. He will perform the 24-note call at 4:30 p.m., EST.

The WWI Memorial was dedicated on April 16, 2021. The inscription on the memorial states, “We were young, they say, we have died, remember us.”

Through this memorial, a grateful nation honors the service, valor, courage, and sacrifice of the 4.7 million American sons and daughters who served in the great war.

The National World War I Memorial in the District of Columbia.

A dedicated staff of buglers, dressed in WWI uniforms, sound Taps daily at 5 p.m. McCain is a sponsor of this event, and his request to perform the song was granted.

McCain will either use a trumpet or bugle that belonged to Ralph Cain during his WWI service in France as part of an Army Band. Ralph was the uncle of Pete Hayden, who grew up and went to school in Iowa near McCain. Hayden, who was a doctor with a medical practice in Camdenton, gave McCain the trumpet and bugle that belonged to Ralph. Both instruments have since been refurbished.

The instrument that once belonged to World War I Army Bugler Ralph Cain, and was gifted to Zack Wheat Post No. 624 Honor Guard Bugler Mike McCain. (
John Roach)

The Doughboy Foundation, which supports programs and activities that educate the public about America’s participation in WWI, heard the story of Ralph’s instruments and that McCain is the Post 624 bugler. The foundation was happy to invite him to sound Taps.

McCain will dedicate this service in honor of his father, Gene McClain, who served in the Army Combat Engineers from 1942 to 1945 in Europe during WWII.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” McCain said. “My family and I are very excited to be a part.”

Read the entire article on the LakeExpo website.
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