A veteran working for veterans

Photo by Paul Robeson

FOR THOSE WHO SERVED: Robert “Bob” Peterson plays Taps at the Anderson Cemetery. This navy veteran has played the bugle 402 times at funerals for departed veterans.

Bob Peterson, 84, from Happy Valley, volunteers to help those who served.

If you have been to a local military funeral you may have seen Bob Peterson play Taps. Since he has been playing Taps at military funerals he has played his bugle 402 times.

Peterson played musical instruments as far back as he can remember — he even spent several years as a member of the Jimmy White Orchestra traveling throughout the Midwest. As a professional musician, he appeared on the Lawrence Welk radio/television show.

Back then, he played the saxophone and the clarinet, but since moving to Shasta County in 1983 it has been mostly the bugle since there are so few buglers around anymore.

Since there are no buglers available for military services Peterson recently switched, when he turned 81, to the ceremonial bugle – a small device that fits in the end of the horn and plays a pre-recorded version of Taps.

“I sometimes feel guilty that I no longer have the wind to play the bugle ‘live’ for deceased veterans,” said Peterson.

Peterson, a former insurance claims adjuster, hearing officer and district supervisor for the Labor Commissioner with the Calif. Dept. of Labor, has tallied over 10,000 miles of driving to and from veteran-related volunteer work since he moved north from the Covina area of Southern California.

“He taught himself how to play the bugle after he became involved with an American Legion post in Redding,” said Marion, his wife of 58 years.

Peterson had served as a past vice-commander of the American Legion for the state, past commander of District II, past commander of Legion Post 197, as advisor for the Shasta County Affiliated Veterans Council, an advisor for the VA Clinic and the VFW District 20 Honor Guard, American Legion and AMVETS.

Bob Peterson is presently the Liaison Officer for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9650 in Anderson and is a member of the post Honor Guard.

Peterson served as a fighter pilot in the US Navy during World War II in the South Pacific. He flew off the aircraft carriers USS Wake Island (CVE-65) and the USS Solomons (CVE-67) as they were getting ready for the invasion of Japan. At that time, the victory in the Marshall Islands advanced the Pacific battle lines 2,500 miles closer to Japan.

Peterson became a naval fighter pilot instructor on Kwajalein Island and as port director and had to figure out and report to navy ships of the high and low tide times in the port.

“I did a lot of reading of military manuals and eventually figured the times using logarithms I had learned in school and never thought I would ever use,” said Peterson.

Peterson became a Boy Scout leader when his son Scott was in scouting in Southern California and claims the summits of 19 mountains with his scouts including Mt. Whitney.

In Northern California, Peterson, with the American Legion and VFW, helped bring a VA Clinic to Redding and as president of the Veterans Cemetery Assoc., 1996-99, he helped bring the Veterans Cemetery to Igo.

“Veterans can be buried for no cost,” said Peterson, “but if they were buried in the Bay Area or in Medford (Ore.) the cost to get the veterans’ (remains) there (from the North State) could be $400 to $500.”

The new Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo eliminates the cost of transporting a veteran’s remains for families.

Peterson is very outspoken when it comes to veterans and tries to help in any way he can.

“I feel every young person should serve their country in one form or another. Not necessarily in the military, but I believe everyone should give back to the country for what it has given us. It is their country and I feel it is a privilege to live here. The greatest gift to man was our constitution,” said Peterson.