Franklin Pierce, long considered one of the worst presidents in American history, was honored last Friday night at the Old North Cemetery.
Art Carlson of suburban Chicago didn’t care that the 14th president of the United States defended the South’s right to own slaves in the 19th century, or that he favored allowing new territories at the time to choose for themselves if slavery should be legal, or that some historians say Pierce’s beliefs contributed to the start of the Civil War.
To Carlson, Pierce was one of our presidents, and that was the lone prerequisite he needed to play Taps at Pierce’s grave on a steamy night in Concord, down the road from Pierce’s home.
Carlson says he’s doing this for all 39 late presidents, spread over 19 states. Concord was the 17th president to receive this personal tribute since 2016, and in that context, Pierce – who died in 1869 at age 64 – is rubbing elbows with stars like Lincoln and Reagan.
Carlson places all presidents in an elite category in U.S. history. All were leaders of a noble country and deserve to have Taps played at their graves, he said. He says he feels a sense of patriotism while attempting to find common ground between political parties, and these days, that’s nearly impossible.
Said Carlson: “I feel that each and every president, no matter what his political affiliation was, whether he was considered a good president or a bad president, he was still the president of our country and deserves to have the honor of Taps played at his gravesite, as do all veterans.”
So Carlson, a 67-year-old retired bricklayer and contractor, and his wife, Bernadette Carlson, a retired office manager, travel the country, driving and flying to grave sites to honor the men in this select group.
A World War II veteran had given Carlson an old bugle that “looked like it had been run over by a truck,” Carslon said. “I just practiced and practiced and practiced.”
Then Bernadette’s father died six years ago, prompting Art, at Bernadette’s request, to dust off his old friend for the first time in decades and play Taps at the funeral. Interestingly, that debut performance packed a wallop. More than any since.
“It’s very difficult when you knew someone who’s being buried,” Art said. “It was really hard to play.”
That sparked something, a road dedicated to remembrance that has cost lots of money and required lots of time. Art told Bernadette his plan: Since Taps wasn’t written until 1863, during Lincoln’s term, and 15 presidents preceded him, Art reasoned that none of those earlier leaders had been honored with a version of Taps.
“There’s 15 presidents that never had Taps played for them,” Art recalled telling Bernadette back in 2016, “and I am going to find those 15 presidents and play taps for them.”
Certainly a noble undertaking, Bernadette knew, but she preferred to take this one step further. “You can’t do that,” Bernadette responded, “because if you were going to play for even one (president), you have to play for them all.”
He liked the idea.
Bernadette has been his biggest supporter ever since.
“As long as he’s having fun,” Bernadette said moments before Art took the stage. “I like cemeteries, I think they’re very peaceful. All the history is amazing.”
They’re now a team. They began with Lincoln, who settled in Illinois, the Carlsons’ home state. And while they never have toured relentlessly like the Grateful Dead, they’ve kept their eye on the prize –showing appreciation, working as one.
The list grew, with big names like Nixon and obscure names like Harding.
Art had stories. Adventures. He called Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and asked if he could play Taps at JFK’s grave. No, he was told, but he plans to go next year regardless, hoping he can convince an official there that this was a noble and worthy cause.
For now, Taps can be played at Arlington by representatives of military families, and only on the day of the burial.
He may end up playing outside the gate.
“I said that I’m going to fulfill my mission,” Art said. “It’s just that it won’t be the way I wanted.”
They flew to Las Vegas and then to California to honor Richard Nixon. Art was met with skepticism and mistrust, hearing more than once that no one had ever asked to do that before.
According to Art, the curator said, ‘You don’t want money, you don’t want publicity? All you want to do is play Taps?’ ”
“That’s about it,” Art answered.
“C’mon, let’s go.”
Art got a lot of work done last weekend. He played Taps for John Adams and John Quincy Adams in Quincy, Mass., and he played for Calvin Coolidge in Vermont.
“We try to map it out where I get at least two presidents per year,” Carlson said. “With what I have left on my schedule, if I don’t do two presidents per year, it’s going to drag out. You never know what may happen.”
Carlson is taking nothing for granted. If he can’t make it to the end, he’s got several family members who also play the trumpet – his son and two of his grandchildren. They are his insurance policy, his safety net.
“If I don’t finish my goal, should something happen to me before then, I told them that they will have to,” Carlson said. “They’ll have to find the presidents who I have not played for when I’m gone.”
At the Old North Cemetery, Art and Bernadette – fresh from a family trip to Disney World, where his children continued to mingle with Mickey – pulled into the cemetery in an SUV at dusk.
Pierce’s grave was easily identified, its base and column towering over all other monuments. The granite is bright, the flowers stand tall.
“We’ve been to decrepit cemeteries,” Bernadette said, mentioning James Buchanan. “Presidential gravesites should be maintained really well.
Art was also easily identified by the sun’s strong reflection off his silver-coated trumpet. He introduced himself, describing his background, relaying the start of what has become a six-year journey, expressing his feelings of loyalty to his country, his respect for our leaders.
All of them.
His cheeks puffed in and out. His version was mistake-free, beyond one little squeak.
“My grandkids will have something to read when I’m gone,” Art said. “I wish my grandfather would have done something like that. He was a World War I veteran. I play taps every time I visit his grave.
“God, I love it.”