Naugatuck Music Teacher to Play Taps at Gettysburg National Cemetery

Pictured: CW4 Lisa DeMunda in her dress uniform Photo courtesy of Lisa DeMunda Photos of Ms. DeMunda in Gettysburg by Wendy Allen

Oakville, CT - A few years back Naugatuck music teacher Lisa DeMunda was honored on two occasions to sound Taps at Arlington National Cemetery. The first time was as part of the 150th Anniversary of Taps, where she played solo at the Eternal Flame at President Kennedy's Gravesite. A few years later she performed again for the 50th Anniversary of JFK's assassination at the graves of Robert and Edward Kennedy.

Superintendent of Schools Sharon Locke announced on Monday that this year, Ms. DeMunda has been asked to perform Taps for two nights at Gettysburg National Cemetery. It is part of an event titled "100 Nights of Taps" sponsored by the National Park Service, the Lincoln Fellowship and Taps for Veterans.

Ms. DeMunda will play solo Taps Tuesday, Aug. 22, and as part of a trio on Wednesday, Aug. 23 with Lieutenant Colonel Jari Villanueva (Maryland Defense Force) (ret) and Major Rick Barnes (Maryland Defense Force). The performance will take place in front of the Soldiers National Monument at the entrance to the cemetery. The teacher is the only Connecticut musician performing in this event, and she has Orders from the CT State Military Department granting her permission to participate. The uniform she will wear will be her Officer's Dress Blues, as she will be proudly representing the State of Connecticut and the Second Company Governor's Foot Guard.

CW4 Lisa DeMunda is the Bandmaster and Conductor of the Second Company Governor's Foot Guard of Branford, CT and is the first woman to ever hold that position. She holds dual Bachelor Degrees from the University of Connecticut and a Masters Degree from Central Connecticut State University. CW4 DeMunda has been a music teacher for the past 28 years; the first 3 years of teaching she was a band director at Newtown Middle School, Newtown, CT and the past 25 years as a band director for the Naugatuck, CT Public Schools. She currently teaches over 200 instrumental music students every week, in addition to many private students. CW4 Lisa DeMunda resides in Oakville, CT. with her two children Joseph and Katherine Noga.

Ms. DeMunda currently teaches 5th and 6th grade instrumental music at Hillside Intermediate and Cross Street Schools in Naugatuck. Since the music teacher will be playing Wednesday night, she will be leaving Gettysburg early Thursday morning in order to attend the opening convocation scheduled at 9am.

Click here to a link to the event. Scroll down to the performances dates to see Ms. DeMunda's name.

The notes of Taps will fill the air over the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, this summer as the famous 24-note call is sounded in honor of those who have served our nation.

The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, in partnership with Gettysburg National Military Park and Taps for Veterans, have announced “One Hundred Nights of Taps” each evening at 7 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day in the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg.

“This is a unique opportunity for visitors to Gettysburg to reflect and honor those who not only fought during the American Civil War, but through all wars – before and after,” said Wendy Allen, Vice President of The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania and co-owner of the Lincoln Into Art gallery. “Gettysburg and the Gettysburg National Cemetery are special, solemn places, and we are humbled to bring this experience each and every night this summer.”

Allen and the Lincoln Fellowship recruited renowned bugler and bugle historian Jari Villanueva to assemble a team of buglers for this 100-evening event. Among the buglers signed up to perform are military veterans, Civil War re-enactor buglers, community band members, high school and college students and music teachers.

“There is no greater way for buglers to express their appreciation to those who have served than to sound Taps,” said Villanueva. “For over 150 years, this call has defined our nation’s solemn tribute to Americans.
The evening bugle call will take place at the Soldiers’ National Monument within the cemetery – often believed to mark the location of President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal “Gettysburg Address” in November 1863.

Gettysburg National Cemetery is home to more than 3,500 Union Army veterans as well as veterans from more recent wars. Visitors from around the world tour these hallowed grounds to pay respects to the fallen soldiers as well as honor one of America’s most famous speeches.

The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania was formed in 1938 to observe each anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, to fittingly commemorate the anniversary of the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg and Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” In addition, the Fellowship, preserves and makes more readily accessible the landmarks associated with Lincoln’s life and ancestry within Pennsylvania and actively encourage the youth of Pennsylvania to embrace his ideals.

Taps for Veterans is an organization that facilitates locating competent, trained buglers to perform the honorable duty of sounding Taps at military funerals and ceremonies.

Gettysburg National Military Park preserves, protects and interprets for this and future generations the resources associated with the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, during the American Civil War, the Soldiers' National Cemetery, and their commemorations. Learn more at www.nps.gov/gett