Courtesy Photo | U.S. Coast Guard Pipe Band members march on 5th Avenue in the New York City St....... read more read more
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SEATTLE - Melodic tunes echo high above, bouncing off awe-inspiring structures lining the streets and blend into the cheers of millions of spectators. Marching amidst their fellow Coast Guard Pipe Band players, members of the Coast Guard 13th District advance along Fifth Avenue in New York City's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Their chilled hands struggle to fend off brisk morning breezes as they power through notes and beats.
As members of the Pipe Band, they've found a source of pride and adventure, an outlet for their musical expressions and an extension of their time as members of the Coast Guard family.
Retired Coast Guard Capt. Harry Dudley, a Coast Guard Pipe Band director and the 13th District drum sergeant, remembers watching parades held on the village green in Guilford, Connecticut, with his parents as a child.
"When the bands marched by, the beat of the drums penetrated my entire body and I was carried away by the power of drums to move me," he said. "That has not changed in the 65 years since."
Zoe Ann Dudley, a bass drum player in the pipe band and Harry Dudley's wife, originally joined and participated as a member of the pipe band's color guard.
It wasn't until one of the band's bass drummers was injured an unable to play that drum corps members encouraged her to take up the bass drum. She officially played bass for the first time at the 2010 Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, and has participated in national and local band events ever since.
Much like her husband, the beat of the drums captivates her.
"I've had a lesson on a pipe chanter, but drumming touches my soul," she said.
The drum core is comprised of members on the snare, bass and tenor drums, and is complimented by a contingent of pipers.
Playing since he was 10 years old, Lt. Andrew Bacon, a pilot at Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, Oregon, is a band piper and the assistant operations officer.
"Inside the band itself, the leader is the pipe major," Bacon said. "In the Coast Guard Band, he usually wears a red sash to distinguish himself."
Distinguishing items aren't limited to just the various positions within the band.
"I've played with different pipe bands throughout the time I've been playing," said Bacon. "Each band has a unique kilt that they wear."
The pattern of alternating bands of color on the kilt is referred to as a tartan. The Coast Guard Pipe Band wears the Coast Guard Tartan, which was approved by Adm. James Loy, then commandant of the Coast Guard, on May 1, 2002. A derivative of the Hamilton Tartan, it pays homage to the father of the modern day Coast Guard, Alexander Hamilton.
The Coast Guard Tartan uses the colors red, white and blue. Red symbolizes the courage and sacrifice of Coast Guard members in peace and war, 10 white threads represent the sails of the original 10 revenue cutters authorized by Hamilton, and blue represents the seas and skies.
The Coast Guard Pipe Band uniform is made up of components combining regulation Coast Guard uniform items and items drawn from military tradition, rather than from Scottish ethnic traditions.
On the top, they wear the equivalent of a tropical blue long or service dress blue uniform. The normal blue dress trousers or skirt is replaced with the kilt and a sporran.
"The sporran is made of horse hair," said Bacon describing the pouch-like traditional British military item that functions as a pocket or wallet for the pocketless kilt. "Then we wear long socks and spats."
Spats, a shortening for spatterdashes or spatter guards, are a type of classic outer-footwear traditionally worn by military members to protect their lower leg, provide ankle support, and keep dirt, sand and mud from entering the shoes.
"Being able to wear the uniform and represent the Coast Guard is an even more direct way to show support than being an active spouse of an active duty member," said Zoe Ann Dudley who, as a result of her support throughout Harry's career, was presented the Swivel Shot Award for her outstanding leadership and service to the Coast Guard family.
A strong sense of pride resonates through every event, march, note and competition.
"One of the most dramatic events for Zoe Ann in particular was competing against other law enforcement connected pipe bands in front of the capitol building in Washington, D.C., during Police Week," said Harry Dudley. "That gave a whole new dimension to patriotism."
For Coast Guard members, pipe band participation provides additional avenues outside of their everyday work.
"It's kind of a special thing I can do for the Coast Guard," said Bacon, who is requested to play at various events such as retirement ceremonies, change of commands and funerals. "It's pretty unique and a nice opportunity to bring something special, rather than just my normal job."
Being in the band also provides an extended connection to the Coast Guard family.
"The Coast Guard Pipe Band is just an extension of the time we were, and still are, part of the Coast Guard family," said Harry Dudley. "We know how much good the Coast Guard does for America, and being in the pipe band is a direct way to support the Coast Guard, and spread the word to others about the organization that was a major part of our working lives."
Family ties extend past those formed with the band, as the Dudley's involvement, in addition to discovering they had a Scottish heritage, inspired their son Paul to join as well.
But a Scottish heritage isn't required for anyone interested in joining the band.
"The band consists of more than just the bagpipes and drums," said Bacon. "So if you're not musically inclined, but still want to participate, there are ways to be involved."
Other ways to be involved include the color guard and other support functions.
Players take their positions. With bags fully inflated and fingers on the chanter, that first step is taken as the drums roll off.
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2015 18:45 |
| Story ID: | 167871 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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