New York ( CNN ) -- Long Island native Louis DiLeo began his music career as a child . As an adult , he spends his days blowing the same sad song : taps . As the sole bugler for the southern region of New York 's Military Forces Honor Guard -- part of the state National Guard -- DiLeo travels five days a week from cemetery to cemetery , playing at funerals of military servicemen and women and veterans . He started three years ago and has n't missed a day since . For DiLeo , playing taps at the funerals of men and women who served the country holds significant meaning . `` It 's an honor and a privilege to help bring closure to a family and help honor the veterans who have paid a price for me to be able to enjoy the fruits of this country , '' he said . `` To come out everyday and play taps and say thank you is a very small price . '' Taps has been played at military funerals since some time during the Civil War , according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs . It was written by Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield in July 1862 as a revision to the bugle call signaling `` lights out , '' which Butterfield felt was too formal to note the day 's end . By 1891 , Army regulations required taps to be played at military funerals . Aware that there was a shortage of buglers because of the large number of funerals a day , DiLeo contacted the military about bugling after he attended his godfather 's funeral , where a recording of taps was played . About 1,800 veterans die each day , most of them from World War II , according to the VA. Because the military can not provide enough buglers to play at such a large number of funerals , Congress passed a law in 2000 to allow a recorded version to be played . DiLeo said he has made it his mission to eliminate the recording -- and honor the families and service of veterans -- by playing taps at as many funerals he can attend . The most he 's ever done in one day is 26 . `` Every veteran has the right to get military honors , and taps , in my opinion , should be played live as opposed to having a recording , '' DiLeo said . His passion seems to have struck a chord with veterans and other honor guard members . `` Hearing it live sends a more heartfelt symbol that we actually do care about that soldier , that we 're actually there for him , '' said Spc . Orville Porter of the New York honor guard . `` With Mr. DiLeo , you hear the feeling , you hear every note . With a recording , it 's just very bland . '' For a professional trumpet player like DiLeo , taps is technically an easy song to play . `` It 's sort of like asking a concert pianist to play 'Chopsticks , ' `` he said . `` But at the time it needs to be played , when emotions are running high , it 's probably one of the most difficult things to play . '' Very often , DiLeo hears sobs or wails from people at the funeral while he 's playing ; he 's even seen widows collapse as he 's sounded his first note . To get through it , he tries to only concentrate on the music . `` A lot of times , I have to close my eyes and just pay attention to what I 'm doing and just think of it musically , because if I get too emotionally involved in it , I could get to the point where I could n't play , '' DiLeo said . DiLeo has played his bugle for more than 3,000 veterans and active duty servicemen and women and has no plans to stop . `` Doing this is a great honor , and I plan to do it for as long as I can and for as long as they 'll have me . ''
Long Island bugler plays taps at as many military funerals as he can attend . Shortage of buglers led the New York Army National Guard to permit recordings of taps to be played . DiLeo has played at 26 funerals for Congress .