Boy with bugle draws crowd by playing taps

BY Kelly Lopez

Canyon Lake Boy Scouts Matt and Luke Thomas Gamble gave a special Memorial Day salute to fallen American soldiers as Matt played taps on his bugle on his front yard. The boys were participating in a special Scout Salute, which took place at 3:00 p.m. around the country.

A small crowd formed as the two went out into their front yard on Cove View Street in their Boy Scout uniforms, saluted the American flag and said the name of a fallen hero. At 3:01 p.m. Matt played taps on his bugle, joining other scouts throughout the nation who were doing the same.

Matt and Luke Thomas are members of Wildomar Troop #2011. Both are 12 years old and very involved in their Boy Scout troop.

“Matt is the bugler for his troop and Luke is patrol leader this year,” the boys’ mother Susan Gamble said.

Matt was participating in “Taps Across America: The National Moment of Remembrance Memorial Day 2020.” Many around the nation gathered at that time to remember fallen service men and women, but Matt and Luke, being Boy Scouts, did a bit more. They gave “A Scout Salute to Fallen Heroes.” This collective ‘Scout Salute’ included Boy Scouts around the country.

Boy Scout Troop #2011 also made a video honoring many individuals by name who had lost their lives while serving in the military. The troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, Hayden Dalton, from Canyon Lake, organized the video tribute. The troop posted the video on YouTube and its Facebook page.

Not anticipating any spectators, the boys were a bit surprised to see the response they received.

“A few neighbors came out to watch and a couple arrived to watch on their golf cart,” Susan said. “He got a few cheers from neighbors below us who were out in their backyards when he played his second round.”