Quick March

Whew long time no update. Life just seems to sneak up on you and you don’t have time to update things like you want to. First I messed up on my last post and we did have a new member but did break the streak last week. (I think) We went three weeks in a row with new members. I won’t swear we didn’t have any last week because I was at the Scottish Society meeting and haven’t caught up with Don yet.

Speaking of the Scottish Society what a meeting food everywhere and a great performance by the Scottish Country Dancers. There we so many people at the meeting it spilled out of the room we were in into two rooms. I also had the pleasure of dining across from Ken Jones. I had never met Mr. Jones only heard him spoken of in hushed and reverent tones. What a genuinely nice man. Very charming and full of piping stories. He’s probably forgotten more about piping than I even know. Hopefully our paths will cross again and I can glean even the tiniest of info from him.

The band is getting ready for our St. Andrew’s Day tour and the Christmas parades in Alexandria and Mechanicsville as well at the Celtic Christmas Party on Dec 13th. There is some exiting news percolating and will be announced very soon and hopefully our fans will enjoy what is coming up. Everyone is hard at work on the new tunes we are working on and the newer guys are working on getting better. We have a good group and are sounding better and better all the time.

On behalf of all the officers in the band I’d like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for and it’s a great time to stop and reflect on all the blessings we have been granted. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events and other announcements. Take care and have a great week.

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Bagpipe equipment

So we broke the string of new students since the Highland Games, but I know there are others interested and hopefully they’ll take that step. (cough… Jules… cough) I have been really impressed with not only the number of people who are interested but the quality and how quickly those who have come in are picking it up. (At least compared to myself) If you have any interest in learning the pipes or drums please take that step and come on down and join us. I started with a limited musical background and two young kids. My youngest was seven months when I started. I’m on the pipes and I’m working to get better all the time. (life permitting)

Generally they say it takes a year to go from the practice chanter to the pipes but that is a generality. Depending on your background, how much effort you put into it, and your determination it can take as little as four to six months. We’ve got our slow pokes as well but I know those guys are a determined bunch. If you are thinking about it, stop thinking and do it. Life is too short. If you put it off you’ll find yourself like me wishing you had started earlier.

We have a limited number of practice chanters at a greatly discounted price waiting for you to come in purchase one and start learning. Robin is a really good teacher and works very well with the new students. Everyone in the band is friendly and will do what ever they can to help you out. There is a good support system in place to make sure you succeed. You don’t need to be Scottish or Irish you just have to want to play the pipes.

I don’t mean to neglect any one who wishes to play the drums. We have a good group there as well. Keith and Chet are very experienced and great with new folks as well. Drummers are the heartbeat of the band and just as integral as the pipes. The pipers seem to get the glory but we couldn’t do it without the drums.

Now is the time put a practice chanter or drum pad on your Christmas list and take the first step to doing something you know you’ve always wanted to do. We are here every Monday at Westhampton United Methodist Church waiting for you to join and carry on the Highland traditions that have been passed on for generations. If you have more questions, please contact our Pipe Major Tim Batten. For directions to our practice location click here, and make sure you check our web site as well as there is good information there as well. Here is the link: Pipe Band

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This weekend has been a whirl of events for St. Andrew’s Legion, one after the other. Friday began with us headed down to Virginia Beach to play for the Virginia State Fire Marshall’s graduation and awards ceremony for Fall 2008. Afterwards, we played in Chets’ ol’ backyard near Oceana and then we did a return performance for MCITC Marine Corps Ball. To those who just can’t understand a Marines’ mind, the Marine Corps birthday which is actually 10 November, is a time we Marines celebrate our warrior heritage with ceremony and formal dining to remember our fallen comrades and also celebrate life as a Devil Dog. Though we carried on, my emotions were restrained. All throughout the evening, the memory of my friend John Warren who passed away this summer, was all so present. As the Navy band struck up the Marine Hymn, that electric feeling that others commend us for and sometimes curse at, swelled through the grand ballroom. Eyes, were front, shoulders squared away and a position of attention that only a 155mm Howitzer round could break, was exemplified by all present. When we played Amazing Grace, I could feel those tears welling in the eyes of those warriors, but they guard those tears well, and instead of falling down cheeks, they subside as resolve and courage to fight on for their fallen brothers and sisters- OoooRah!  That Marines Hymn is so sacred to a Marine, that it only takes second place to the National Anthem. I was so proud of the Legion members who performed, and the way they all followed my lead to play the Marines Hymn in a somber respectful fashion, as that cake rolled in was beautiful. As we silently marched to our new position across the ball room floor, I felt blue trousers on my legs once again, and not the kilt. For such as Regiments ever handed down, every Marine who wore the uniform, is one with his brethren and sister warriors throughout the ages.The drive home was a silent drive. My wife thought I was mad at first because of deafening slence, but I had to explain later, I was in such a deep thought, I could not bring myself to speak. I was somewhere in time amongst all my old comrades. I kept thinking of my friend John and the Hell he went through, that brought him down, and I felt like the only man on the planet that knew his pain. In some ways I do, for 4 years, I’ve been fighting the same fight and I’ll say no more on the matter. For me, John still lives on, and that damn cocky smile appears like a ghost amonst columns and files of Dress Blues. Our Presidents and Commands may change along with the state of a nation, but the United States Marine Corps remains the same. Thank God & Semper Fi!

Saturday, we marched in the Urbanna Oyster Festival Parade. Rain greeted us when we first arrived packed full of crowded visitors, tons of State Troopers, plenty of seafood, and inebriated persons. The rain stopped just before the parade. Urbanna was sort of a relaxed break for those who came and those who had other kilts representing their clans and families wore them. It was reminiscent of the days when the Legion first formed before there was a uniformed tartan. Our tone, step, and performance was picture perfect.

Sunday, I will be the lone Piper greeting Hotel Battery 3/14 Marines back home from overseas duty, then Monday– it’s the Official 233rd USMC birthday, and band practice.

Tuesday is Veterans Day, and we honor all of the US Armed Forces veterans at the Virginia War Memorial on Belvidere St in Richmond.

To: Cmdr. Chet Strait, William O’Kelley, Donald Milligan, Tim Johnston, Brad Trimble, Al Maas, Robin Hale-Cooper, Richard Burnette, Mark Chapman. James Glasscock, Robert MacLean,, Michael Draper, Valerie Batten and any other veterans in the SALPD…          <Present Arms>     Ladies & Gentlemen, I salute you, and I thank you for your service to this nation.

Pipe Major T Lewis Batten

If you can read this, Thank a teacher.

If being free inspires and motivates you, Thank the Veterans of the US Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Marines! It’s those persons who wore the uniform that won your freedom, not some blasted politician!

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Eureka! I have finally found our band a source of decent affordable wool DICED HOSE tops!

For everyone in the SALPD and our comrades out here in the Scottish community, go to www.glengarryhats.com  There you will find our standard Red/White along with Red/Black, Blue/White and other color combonations.

I’ve been dealing with the companies owner, Ian Parenteau for several years now, and once again, Ian has come through for us. He even makes large sizes to fit us lads with larger calves. Ian is also our major source for insignia, glengarries, and special military jackets/ coats.

Once again, the website is www.glengarryhats.com

Pipe Major T Lewis Batten

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Changing of the seasons greatly effects bagpipes more than some realize and it’s important now that we’re breaking into cold weather, you double check your instrument. Hide bag and hybrids get especially depleted in integrity once the cold sets in. Dressings and seasonings are not as chemically active and the walls of the bag can become more pourous. If you’re playing a Gannaway bag, a little bit of water (inside) the bag will reactivate the Dressing you currently have in there, unless it’s been several months or a year, then you may want to treat with more seasoning/ dressing. Swab those stocks out after you’ve added water or dressing. The excess can glob up on your reeds.

Double check you hemped joints too. For anyone who played at the Richmond Games, your instrument was saturated in the cold rain. Hemp will begin to rot once it has became wet too many times. Take the time to read up on other forums on maintenance tips.

The band has got new long awaited chanter reeds in, so make sure if you’ve exhausted your supply, to get some new ones.

Playing pipes in the winter can be a bit more of a pain when it comes to tuning, especially if you’re doing a lot of transitions from outdoors to indoors and vice versa, during a single gig. If you know you’re going to be playing both indoors and outside, for an example: piping a wedding and leading the parties out of the building: Tune up inside, so that when you strike in, you’re not standing there in shock from wayward drones not in tune with the chanter.  I will write more later on this subject.

PMaj. T Batten

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