I have posted a long time ago about military bugle calls, but only about a few. Sixty years ago I knew them all well enough to whistle them. I'm going to see if I can find a site about them. Here's the quote about one:
"“You are right, Planchet,” said Athos; “besides, the tattoo has been sounded, and we should be observed if we kept a light burning much longer than the others.”

http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/buglecalls/Buglecalls_Service.html

Tattoo is the last one. Of course Taps was composed during the US Civil War. And of course no telling what the French calls sounded like. And because of my deafness, I can't listen to them. I still wish I could find site about that Mexican bugle call that told enemy no quarter would be given.It really used to activate my erector pilae muscles.

And for all of y'all that can read music, yes, Tattoo *did end on that note. Left ya hanging, it did. But then, by the time it was done, it was almost time for Taps, anyway.

This made me feel sad - yesterday I read in the NY Times that they are using an electronic device that fits into the bell of a bugle, to play "Taps" at military funerals. The reason? The bugler isn't really; can't play a note; just for show. There aren't enough real buglers anymore to keep up with all of the military funerals, so this electronic doodad is being used. Apparently plays a beautiful, flawless version...

Dear Vanguard: Welcome! Let's hope the replacement of humans by electronic devices grows until only 'droids get killed.

It just occurred to me to wonder about the etymology of "tattoo". Surprise: it is from Dutch, and was something like "tap too" meaning no more beer served.
tattoo 2
n.,
pl. 3toos$ 5earlier taptoo < Du taptoe < tap toe, tap to (shut): a signal for closing barrooms6
1 a) a signal on a drum or bugle, summoning military personnel to their quarters at night b) in Great Britain, a military spectacle featuring music, marching, and military exercises
2 any continuous drumming or rapping
vt., vi.
3tooed$, 3too4ing to beat or tap on (a drum or other surface)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3082306.stm

Apparently the number of veterans dying each year is about to rocket, it being nigh on 60 years since WW2. The average age of death in the US is 77.2 years.

I was saddened when Rememberance Day (Nov. 11 here) was made into a statutory holiday. When I was a kid the school made a point of talking about when and who and why we were remembering. Mr. Wormspecker our janitor told us tales of near starvation and occupation when he was our age that made it real to us. Now it is just another day off.
Last year an 8 year old from youth group asked "war is bad, why should we remember it." No-one had explained it to him.