Thursday, February 16, 2012  On a wet, cold and breezy day, members of the montgomery County Firefighters Pipes and Drums gathered with other regional fire, police and civilian pipe bands to honor one of our own.  Paramedic Joshua Weismann of the Alexandria, VA Fire Department tragically lost his life last week while operating on the scene of an emergency incident.


Members marched his casket to the synagogue under two raised aerial ladders and an American flag and then piped him off and back onto the engine company assigned to his station.  The massed band then honored Josh for one last time at his graveside.


Our band was honored to be part of this service and hold Josh's family, friends and fellow firefighters and paramedics in our hearts.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012  After many hours of hard work, frustration and finger cramping, student piper Bill Blinkhorn has moved onto Active Piper status with the band.  Bill was required to play all the level 5 sets and tunes by himself which include Amazing Grace, Going Home and the Montgomery Set.


When a member piper passes this huge bridge, they are presented with their Montgomery Plaid Drone Ribbons and a shot of Irish Whiskey!  Bill will now focus on the level 4 tunes and moving forward in the band.



Congratulations to Bill from all of us!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012  Stuart Frazier was the Bagpipe Instructor for the band on "Day #1" He instructed the 13 original Pipers on how to play the bagpipes..... He now has a place in heaven!


Stuart will be instructing the Student Pipers on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month.


Every piper needs a pedigree!

Saturday, January 28, 2012  Delco Midlantic Workshop
Competition   01/28/2012 - 01/29/2012
The Mid-Atlantic Branch of the EUSPBA is pleased to announce the 2012 Delco Mid-Atlantic Workshop. We have a great line-up of piping and drumming instructors this year; I hope you will consider joining us for this “winter tune-up” and weekend of fellowship before the Mid-Atlantic competition season begins. We are also proud to host the “Gilchrist Challenge” and the “John Murray Challenge” for piping and drumming competitors under the age of 22.
euspba.org/event/event20120128.pdf
Holiday Inn, Washington Dulles Airport  45425 Holiday Drive
Sterling  VA  20166

Contact: Jim Roberts, MidAtlanta Branch Chair  jimroberts2008@gmail.com  757-816-4469

Judges: David Bailiff, Alex Kuldell, Dan Lyden, Ed Neigh, Jon Quigg, David Ricklis, Nancy Tunnicliffe and Sally Warburton

Monday, January 23, 2012  Members of the Montgomery County Firefighters Pipes and Drums, Northern Virginia Firefighters Pipes and Drums and Frederick Firefighters Pipes and Drums braved the freezing rain and cold by responding to assist with a line of duty death yesterday.  Brandon Little of United Hook and Ladder Company 33 in Adams County, Pennsylvania tragically died last week while responding to a structure fire.  Brandon was only 19 years old and had been a member of the department for approximately a year.


All of the bands would like to send our condolences to the family, friends and brother and sister firemen that have been part of Brandon's life.  May he rest in piece and keep us all safe!

Thursday, November 17, 2011   The Montgomery County Firefighters Pipes and Drums is proud to announce our first Fall Fundraising Event. 

The event will be held on Thursday November 17, 2011 at Memories Charcoal House in Mt Airy, Maryland (http://www.memoriescharcoalhouse.com).  Beginning at 5:30 pm, a percentage of all proceeds from food and beverage sales will be donated to the band.  The event will also feature band performances, drink specials, raffles, and merchandise sales.  

Memories is a great family-friendly venue with delicious food offerings, but also a fun place to have a few drinks at the bar with friends.  Come on out any time between 5:30 pm and midnight to support your Pipes and Drums.  Funds raised will help cover the cost of new uniform items for our upcoming busy 2012 parade season, where we hope to be looking and sounding better than ever!

Friday, November 11, 2011  CHEVY CHASE, MD – Warm, gentle, friendly, a man of incredible integrity, devoted, passionate…

These were just some of the words people used Friday to describe Hal Bruno, fire service legend, political journalist and advocate for survivors of fallen firefighters.

There was no shortage of Hal stories. Recounted by fire service officials, ABC news personalities, colleagues and sons, the vignettes brought smiles and laughter.

It was noted that Bruno, an ABC political news director for decades, died on an election day and his memorial service was being held at 11 a.m. on 11/11/11.

"Who else do you know would spend part of the night handing out coffee to firefighters battling a multi-alarm fire in the nation's capital, and a few hours later be at his desk preparing to moderate a debate between three men running for vice president?" said Dennis Compton, chairman of the board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

He went on to say that Bruno was just as happy sitting at the kitchen table in the firehouse hearing about the big one as he was sitting with Ted Koppel, David Brinkley and Peter Jennings talking about who the next president would be.

"…We understood who the real Hal was. The Hal who knew in his heart he was a great firefighter who just happened to have a side job as a journalist covering the political scene in Washington."

Bruno's son, Harold, gave those gathered at Temple Shalom a glimpse of how it was at home. "We lost a few vacations over Watergate," he noted.

He spoke of his father's passion for skiing, fishing, hikes and attending sporting events, especially his beloved Cubs.

Harold recalled it was often difficult trying to do his homework with his father's bluegrass band, "Informed Sources," holding jam sessions in the basement.

Fellow ABC political commentator Cokie Roberts said Bruno was a mentor to many, and a stickler for detail. He realized that it was important to reach out to politicians on a local level to really get a handle on the pulse of voters.

At the Bethesda-Chevy Case Rescue Squad on Friday afternoon as family and firefighters mingled, the Montgomery County pipe and drum band played.

Former U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes described Bruno's work not only to get the NFFF established, but to make sure it succeeded. He said he was impressed that the number of firefighter deaths have been going down.

The best tribute tribute to Bruno, he said, would be to continue to reduce the number of firefighter deaths.

The celebration of Bruno's life concluded with a slideshow where he's seen on the slopes with his family, shaking hands with presidents, assisting at fire scenes and consoling families.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011  It is with deep sadness that the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation announces that Chairman Emeritus, Hal Bruno, died last evening, Tuesday, November 8, 2011. He was 83.

For more than 60 years, Hal Bruno served as an active member of the fire service community, giving selflessly as a dedicated volunteer firefighter, advocate, commentator and leader. He is renowned for his commitment to fire safety initiatives and his compassion for the members of the fire service and their families.

Bruno was appointed chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in 1999, a distinction he held until his retirement in 2008. Under Hal's leadership the NFFF expanded services and resources for the survivors, including workshops, conferences and scholarships. He guided and supported the Foundation in developing safety initiatives for firefighters and advancing safety practices that will help to reduce the number of line of duty deaths and injuries.

to read more visit http://ht.ly/7nRzA

Saturday, October 22, 2011  The MCFF Pipes and Drums opened again for the annual IAFF Local 1664 Retirement Gala on October 22nd.  The band began with a solo of Dawning of the Day and thenall members striking in and meeting and circling up in front of the crowd.  The colors were then played in and the rest of the night was spent honoring our department retirees.  We wish them all the best in their retirement.