Sheriffs' Office - Pipes & Drums

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office Pipes & Drums was formed in 2006 by Sheriff Danny Glick.  The band members are a mix of members of the Laramie County Sheriffs' Office, Homeland Security, and citizens who have a keen interest in Piping.   The band plays several community events as well as parades, funerals and memorials and will function as part of the Laramie County Sheriff's Office Color Guard.   The band uniform is comprised of a white dress uniform shirt and a Kilt in the Black Stewart Tartan.   The Black Stewart Tartan was chosen because the colors of the Tartan are the same as those of the State of Wyoming.   The red represents the Indians and the blood of the pioneers who gave their lives reclaiming the soil.   White is the emblem of purity and uprightness over Wyoming.   Blue, the color of the sky and mountains..

The tradition of bagpipes played at police or fire department funerals in the United States go back over one hundred fifty years.   When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to this country, they brought many of their traditions with them. One of these was the bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and ceilis (dances).

It wasn't until the great potato famine and massive Irish immigration to the East Coast of the United States that the tradition of the pipes really took hold in police and fire departments.   Factories and shops had signs reading "NINA"-No Irish Need Apply.   The only jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted - jobs that were dirty, dangerous or both - fire-fighters and police officers.   The police and firefighters funerals were typical of all Scottish and Irish funerals-the pipes were played.   It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter or police officer to cry at the sound of pipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade.

Those who have been to funerals when bagpipes play knows how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. Before too long, families and friends of non-Scottish or Irish police officers or firefighters began asking for the piper to play for these fallen heroes.   The pipes add a special air and dignity to the solemn occasion.   Associated with cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, pipe bands representing both fire and police often have more than 60 uniformed members.   They are also traditionally known as Emerald Societies after Ireland-the Emerald Isle.   Many bands wear traditional Scottish dress while others wear the simpler Irish uniform.   All members wear the kilt and tunic, whether it is a Scottish clan tartan or Irish single color kilt. Today, the tradition is universal and not just for the Irish or Scottish.   The pipes have come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero's funeral.