Band of Brothers in Blue
Essex Emerald Pipe Band named host for National Police Week
n BY ANNE FORLINE
Humbling… Overwhelming… An honor…
These descriptions barely scratched the surface of drum major
Don Gilmartin’s emotions following the Essex Emerald Pipe Band’s
prestigious role performing as “host band” during National Police
Week in Washington, D.C.
The gig – the group’s second opportunity as host band in honor
of their 35th anniversary – featured multiple performances throughout the weeklong series of events. They were among three bands to
play during Thursday’s Unity Tour arrival ceremony at the National
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM), welcoming in more
than 2,000 riders who had just completed their journey from North
Jersey. And a procession of that many cyclists means they had to significantly extend their set list.
“For an entire hour or so, there were bagpipes playing these guys
and girls in,” recalled Gilmartin, who is also a Newark career firefighter.
On Friday, the band escorted survivors’ families to their seats for
the Candlelight Vigil held on the National Mall, and the next day
they led the 22nd annual Emerald Society & Pipe Band March and
Service. While marching the mile from New Jersey Avenue and F
Street up to the NLEOM, Gilmartin in awe of the number of law
enforcement officers who lined the streets cheering them on.
“The crowd was clapping which really got us into our playing,” he
stated. “It was pretty impressive standing there in the crowd and
seeing all these bands and honor guards come in. Bands were honoring the men and women on the Wall and every honor guard
looked so sharp. When we played ‘Amazing Grace,’ there wasn’t a dry
eye in the place.”
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NEW JERSEY COPS
n
JUNE 2016
One of the more memorable tunes the Essex Emerald Pipe Band
played was called “Drummers Loss,” composed by pipe major Scott
Sim in memory of Richie Rodriquez, Steve Huczko and Liam Callahan – three Port Authority of New York/New Jersey officers and
drummers in the Port Authority Bag Pipe Band who lost their lives
on 9-11.
“‘Drummers Loss’ is a great tune because it honors the three
police officers who were in the bag pipe band,” Gilmartin affirmed.
To prepare for these performances, band members devoted
many long hours of practices.
“Those guys worked their butts off to get ready,” Gilmartin
emphasized. “The pipers and the drummers spent the past five
months learning the tunes. Attendance was up for practices and
these guys worked and they pulled it off.”
At about 40 members strong, the Essex Emerald Pipe Band is
made up of members of law enforcement and the fire service. It was
formed in 1981 after one of Gilmartin’s classmates and fellow
Newark firefighter Harry Halpin was killed in a fire, and a civilian
band was hired to play at his funeral – something unacceptable to
Gilmartin and the band’s founders.
Today the band proudly continues to honor first responders with
traditional pipe and drum music and they are humbled at the
response they received from their Police Week Tour.
“Being able to play for all of the (attendees) was a proud moment
for the band,” Gilmartin emoted. “It was also very humbling. It is
hard to explain the feeling, the rush you get, and it’s sometimes overwhelming. It is an honor that we were picked from all of the bands
and we had so much of a response from the other pipers and drummers that they really appreciated how well it went off.” d