{"id":776,"date":"2022-06-01T12:56:34","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T12:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.tarleton.edu\/silvertaps\/?page_id=776"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:39:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:39:30","slug":"about-silver-taps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/silvertaps\/about-silver-taps\/","title":{"rendered":"About Silver Taps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Silver Taps ceremony is a tradition that was reinstated at Tarleton State in 1989 by the Junior Cadet Staff Sergeant, Tom Hughes. By reinstating the ceremony Hughes would hopefully show that the Corp supports every student, faculty and staff at Tarleton State. \u201cWe love Tarleton! This is our way of showing our peers that we\u2019re behind them 100 percent,\u201d said Hughes. Since then, the Silver Taps Ceremony has been a time-honored tradition held every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Silver Taps Tradition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The flames we light, carry, and extinguish during the annual Silver Taps ceremony honor the lives of members of the Tarleton State family that have passed away during the previous year.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Flame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historically, and certainly here at Tarleton State, the flame has long been a symbol of knowledge. Students begin their official academic journey with Convocation and the lighting of their Tarleton State flame during the Candle Lighting Ceremony. The flame sheds light on future endeavors and achievements. Scores of students participate every year in the Silver Taps Ceremony where they carry and extinguish a flame to honor and remember members of the Tarleton State family that have passed away during the previous year.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Ceremony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Silver Taps Ceremony is a tribute held each spring to honor our faculty, staff, students, alumni and supportive friends deceased during the previous year. This is a cooperative ceremony sponsored by the Tarleton State Ambassadors, Texan Corps of Cadets and the Tarleton Alumni Association. The ceremony includes reading of the Honor Roll, prayers, a processional, Taps and a 21-gun salute. The Tarleton State Flags located on the campus are placed at half-staff for the day of the ceremony.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Honor Roll<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The coordinator of the annual Silver Taps Ceremony and volunteers gather names for the Honor Roll on a weekly basis all year. Several online search engines are utilized to find obituaries that mention Tarleton State. Public records are used to find addresses when survivors\u2019 cities of residence are included. An invitation to the ceremony is mailed to families about one month prior to the ceremony.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Families of Honorees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Everyone is invited to the Tarleton Alumni Association Reception. Families of honorees are welcome to carry a candle and participate according to their comfort level. There is one candle per honoree. Additional family members are welcome to walk in the ceremony accompanying their family\u2019s candle bearer. There is no need for honorees\u2019 families to participate in the rehearsal. The Tarleton State Ambassadors and Texan Corp of Cadets will guide families before the ceremony.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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