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THE BIRTH OF THE BAND

For nearly twenty five years, the Chicago Fire Department utilized the services of the Pipes and Drums of the Emerald Society – Chicago Police Department to honor members who fell in the line of duty.

Sadly, in March 2006 the Department again asked the Emerald Society to play at the funeral of Firefighter “Billy” Grant, who was killed in an accident while responding to a call.

At that time, Firefighter/Paramedic Marty Gatton was actively playing with another fire service bagpipe band, the “Band of Brothers” from Hammond, Indiana.

The Emerald Society extended an invitation to Marty to participate in Firefighter Grant’s funeral, as he was the only Chicago Fire Department member in the band.

On several occasions Marty and Firefighter/Paramedic Jim Sewnig, who had been taking piping lessons, had discussed forming a CFD pipe band. In addition, the topic had been discussed sporadically on a department related online bulletin board for some months before. One of the active posters on the board was found to be Firefighter Rory Ohse. These three members met in April 2007 and the band began to change from concept into reality. With the sights and sounds of a duty funeral fresh in the mind of the membership, an informational meeting was planned for May 12. Flyers were created and distributed to the firehouses.

The first meeting was held and approximately 20 people attended. After the meeting, the organizing members were being approached by others who had just learned of the plans, so another was scheduled to be held in June. Another 20 people attended. Money was collected from the students to purchase pads & sticks and practice chanters.

One attendee at the first meeting was found to have a percussion background and pipe band experience. Firefighter Ray Fineron was quickly brought in to participate in the organizing committee.

Jim Sewnig had been taking lessons from Dave Johnston, a World Champion piper from Scotland. Dave is also the instructor for the Chicago Police Department Pipes & Drums. He offered his services free of charge. Due to the number of piping students, another piping instructor was brought in to assist Dave. Luke Cunningham had been a member of the Chicago Caledonian Pipe Band as a Grade 2 piper and had been working closely with Dave both as a band member and instructor.

Dave had also recruited a member of the police band to act as a drumming instructor. However, scheduling conflicts kept him from fulfilling his offer. Ray Fineron quickly stepped up and took on the task of instructing the drumline.

The first week of July 2007 saw the first session of instruction for pipers and drummers. Instruction materials, chanters, pads and sticks were distributed and the weekly lessons began.

Word of the band was spreading and requests for performances began to come in.

With a drum borrowed from the CPD band, and kilts lent by the University of Chicago Pipe Band, five playing members took the field at the CFD vs. FDNY Baseball game in Crestwood on July 13, 2007. 2 piping students also acted as a color guard. The first “official” performance of the band was now under our belts.

At the annual Gold Badge Society picnic on August 25, 2007, again in U of C kilts, 4 playing members participated in a brick laying ceremony honoring Firefighter Grant.

During this period the organizing committee was working on drafting by-laws and completing the necessary paperwork to be recognized by the IRS as a Not For Profit Organization. The membership chose to place the members of the organizing committee to fill the positions of the band’s Executive Board.

In addition, the board members met with Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco and the Executive Board of Firefighters Union Local 2 to present the band and its goals. Local 2 generously donated $2500 for the band to purchase a bass drum, a snare drum, carriers and protective cases for the equipment.

The band ordered the equipment and outfitted the bass drum with the band’s logo, which was designed by Chicago Firefighter Chuck Iglinski, owner of Firehouse Tattoos.

On September 23, 2007, the band first participated in Local 2’s annual Memorial Ceremony, held at Rosehill Cemetery.

Ignite The Spirit, an organization formed to help Chicago Firefighters and their families, extended an invitation to the band to sell the newly designed band t-shirts and play at the “Cubby Bear” in Wrigleyville. Piping and drumming students sold shirts as the playing members performed.

Local 2 played host to the Redmond Symposium in October, 2007. The band extended an invitation to other fire department pipe bands to join them in a performance at the cocktail reception. 5 members of the AFFI Honor Guard Pipe Band and a member each representing the Cleveland, Ohio and Austin, Texas Fire Department joined 3 playing members of the band in the short performance.
 

Later in the week, some members of the AFFI Honor Guard band, as well as the piper from Austin, Texas played at the Ignite the Spirit calendar release party, held at 115 Bourbon Street.

On December 2, 2007, the band was honored to participate in the dedication of a sculpture in honor of Firefighter Walter Watroba who was killed in the line of duty November 22, 1976. It is located just outside Engine Company 13’s house at 259 North Columbus.

The winter months passed quietly and the students worked diligently to learn their instruments. March quickly arrived and the band mustered up a group of 6 playing members to perform at the Ignite the Spirit Black Tie Ball. This was to be the last performance utilizing the U of C Pipe Band kilts.

The membership had gone through a selection process of choosing a tartan for the bands uniform kilt. Starting with a group of twenty-two choices, the band selected the Cunningham Modern tartan. Following the traditional CFD colors, the tartan has a dominant pattern of red and black with narrow blue and white stripes. Members were measured, and the kilts were ordered. The kilts arrived just in time to participate in the Memorial Fundraiser for Firefighter “Billy” Grant, March 30, 2008. The band participated in a massed band performance along with the Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band, the Pipes & Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society, Chicago Police Department Pipes & Drums and members of the AFFI Honor Guard Pipes & Drums.

May 26, 2008 brought 7 pipers and 2 drummers to Fr. Mulcrone’s annual Memorial Mass.

On August 2, 2008 the band fielded 12 pipers and 6 drummers to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Chicago Fire Department. Not bad for a band just one year old.

The band’s popularity and membership continues to grow. A new class of students is added annually, and the bands sound is continually growing and improving.

The band has become a regular participant at promotional ceremonies and other Department and Union sponsored events.