Scots Guards Pipes and Drums Perform at Pentagon

American Forces Press Service ^ | Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff, USAF

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2009 – The British army’s 1st Battalion Scots Guards Pipes and Drums played in the Pentagon courtyard during lunchtime today in a show of solidarity with U.S. armed forces.

The British army’s 1st Battalion Scots Guards Pipes and Drums Band performs for employees, servicemembers and families at the Pentagon, Sept. 25, 2009. The band, which consists of infantry soldiers who will soon prepare to deploy to Afghanistan, performed to express admiration for its closest allies. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Stan Parker  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The unit’s performance is “an expression of admiration and appreciation of our alliance,” said British army Lt. Col. William Swinton, a liaison officer to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a display of camaraderie, the unit played “Scotland the Brave” -- a traditional Scottish anthem -- immediately followed by “God Bless America.”

“We came to [the District of Columbia] for a specific reason,” Swinton said, “to demonstrate the admiration the British military has for the U.S. military.”

The band will go to Walter Reed Army Medical Center tomorrow to play in salute and appreciation to America’s wounded servicemembers, he said.

The unit is the oldest infantry battalion in the British army, Swinton said. Each member of the 20-piece band -- eight pipers, seven drummers, four sword dancers and one drum major -- is a soldier and not a permanent musician. They return Sept. 28 to their base at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, England, to begin training for a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

“These are front-line soldiers who will be fighting with U.S. Marines in Helmand [province],” Swinton said.

The unit's 20-minute performance brought out many people from the Pentagon. One spectator had advance notice of the performance and wore his Gordon clan tartan kilt.

“I’m in a pipe band, so I’m loving it,” said William Germelman, a contractor with the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Yellow Ribbon program and the drum major for the City of Winchester (Va.) Pipes and Drums band. “This is just phenomenal.”

The British unit has been in the United States for about a month. Their performances have taken place aboard the USS Intrepid in New York Harbor; a Scottish-Irish festival in Estes Park, Colo.; and a Scottish Highlands festival in San Francisco.

The group enjoyed playing throughout America, but playing in the Pentagon was special, said British army Sgt. Martin Godsman, drum major.

“It’s an absolute privilege and honor,” he said. “To come to the heart of this place is just fantastic.”

“It’s a great honor to play in the Pentagon,” added British army Lance Cpl. Robert McCutcheon, battalion drummer. It’s “something I thought I’d never do.” The band also played at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday.

Besides the Pentagon, the unit has the unique distinction of having played in the Kremlin, Swinton said.

The unit's visit has been well received, said British army Sgt. Brian Heriot, the pipe major. “The American crowd seems to love the bagpipes,” he said. “Everyone seems to have a Scottish ancestor.”

The 21 members marched in formation as they played, dressed in ornate Scottish military uniforms. Four of the band members performed a traditional Scottish sword dance, similar to American square dancing, but around four swords placed on the ground.

“It takes a brave man to go out to the front lines and fight,” said Alan Bow, a civilian contractor. Bow and his family regularly attend Scottish heritage events and visit Scotland. “But it takes a special kind of bravery to wear a kilt and be a performing dancer as well.”

(Air Force Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff serves in Secretary of the Air Force public affairs. Ian Graham, a writer for Defense Media Activity's Emerging Media Directorate contributed to this report. )

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Photo Essay

The Pipes and Drums of the British 1st Battalion Scots Guard performs for employees, servicemembers and families Sept. 25, 2009 at the Pentagon. The band, which consist of infantry soldiers, performed to express admiration for its closet allies prior to an Afghanistan deployment next spring. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Stan Parker   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

British Sgt. Martin Godsman leads the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guard during a performance for employees, servicemembers and families Sept. 25, 2009 at the Pentagon. The band, which consist of infantry soldiers, performed to express admiration for its closet allies prior to an Afghanistan deployment next spring. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Stan Parker   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[eastsider]

I bump for military bands! Tx for the ping, SandRat.

[WVNan]

Ah..thu pipes, ow they stir this ole Stewart blood.

[Andrewksu]

ping

[EDINVA]

bumping a heart-warming story. Would have LOVED to see them perform.

[centurion316]

The Brits know how to do this right. Unlike our military bands, who do little else but toot their horns, and beat their drums; British bands must perform a combat role. Traditionally that has meant stretcher bearers and aides at medical clearing stations, but in recent times they have formed security details and other combat roles. They are real soldiers despite the pomp and circumstance.

I once had responsibility for an American division Band. We had decided that their wartime role was to drive the war reserve combat vehicles in order to replenish the front line units. So, they had to be trained to drive tanks, self propelled artillery, etc. Great fun and they did well, but I don’t think that they ever would have been called on to do that task.

[6323cd]

Ping!

[SandRat]

During the 80s and earlier the Division Band were responsible for Division Mains Security in the Feild but now even that has been done away with.

[centurion316]

True in some divisions, but not all. I believe that you are right, they no longer have any secondary role.

[Eighth Square]

This ole Stuart blood as well.

[jacquej]

We Gillies girls get all atwitter as well!

[FourPeas]

Hearing the pipes always brings tears to my eyes. Played by proud Scots, I'd be wailing like a babe. May God protect these men as they serve in Helmand.

[sasportas]

There is a reason the British showcase Scottish units like this.

Churchill once commanded a Scottish unit in WW1. He said of the Scots, they never give up, who ever fights them has to kill them all, they fight to the last man. A paraphrase, probably not his exact words, but something to that effect.

[yarddog]

My Mother was a McDuffie and I must have got it honestly as I love the pipes. The drums too.

[aShepard]

Please, we need a link to some vid - with sound!!!

[eastsider]

From the National Music Museum website, the story of Avery Brown, "America's Youngest Civil War Soldier":

President Abraham Lincoln's 1861 call for an additional 100,000 troops to swell the ranks of the Union Army was met with enthusiastic response and long lines at local recruiting centers. Perhaps it was all the excitement and commotion at the Delphos, Ohio, recruiting station that first attracted the attention of Avery Brown, an eight-year-old, fatherless boy. Or perhaps it was the attention showered on him by the veteran, Samuel Mott, who encouraged the 4'6", blue eyed, red-haired youngster to play his snare drum as a morale booster at the recruitment station.

Twice Avery accompanied new recruits to Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. Twice he was denied permission to enlist. On the third trip, Samuel Mott refused to allow the processing of the latest batch of 101 recruits, unless the drummer boy was also allowed to volunteer. Reluctant permission was granted, and on August 18, 1861, Avery Brown was mustered into Company C, 31st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the age of 8 years, 11 months, and 13 days. Like many enthusiastic young patriots of his day, he lied about his age, claiming to be 12 on his enlistment papers.

Brown proudly persevered on the front for 1-1/2 years, so inspiring the troops with his martial music played on a captured Confederate drum, that he was dubbed "The Drummer Boy of the Cumberland," until illness forced him to take a disability discharge in 1863....

[Falconspeed]

Awesome. Yes, a video link would be great. I shall look for one.

[Candor7]

They just travelled from New Hampshire to Washington. The Scots Guards were the guest band of honor of the New Hampshire Highland Games, held at Loon Mountain Ski resort anually in Lincoln New Hampshire.

God bless Scotland and the men at arms of Great Britain,who show us how they feel despite their socialist masters.

[WVNan]

Yeah, the Mary Stuart part of the family.

[SandRat]

There will always be an England So Long as there is a Scotland.