Quick March

Joe and his wife, Maggie

Joe Kilna MacKenzie

It was with sad regret to learn today that an oldfriend of St. Andrew’s Legion, Joseph “Joe” Kilna McKenzie of the Scottish music group, Clann An Drumma passed away in the early hours this morning, April 28th, 2009 in Scotland.

Joe with his group, was a frequent visitor to many a SALPD practice back in the days when the group toured the United States. If one goes to the Clann An Drumma website, the silver snare drum he is playing, was presented to him by the SALPD as a gift. I snagged that photo for my memoirs.

Joe wrote the famous tune “Sgt McKenzie” in an immortal tribute to his grandfather, Sgt. Charles Stuart McKenzie, Seaforth Highlanders, who was killed in action during World War One. SALPD was given permission by Joe, to perform the tune, and though many bands across the globe play the tune now, it’s sacred amongst the Legion and it is considered a precious gift from a great musician.

The tune, performed by Joe and Clann An Drumma, became one of the tracks in Randall Wallace’s blockbuster movie, starring Mel Gibson.”We were Soldiers”, soon became prominent on youtube.com tracks across the globe and various other web sites, to honor the brave men and women of the US Armed Forces and Allies.

Joe was an ambassador for Scotland. A true Warrior of the Highlands at heart, he inspired many of us to keep in touch with our heritage. To him, being a Scot was everything. Scotland lived within him, and he lived for Scotland.

When the original group of Clann An Drumma broke up into different directions, Joe undauntily, perservered to keep the name and music of Clann An Drumma going.  Personally, I am grateful to be friends with all the old group members, and more grateful and thankful to still have had Joe as a friend. He and I still communicated after he returned back to Scotland, but sad to say, I was not aware of his illness. For reasons very pesonal, I can only say that Joe and I shared a lot of personal knowledge and beliefs, and to Joe I say this to you my brother of the Gael, You led, you did not yield, and you held your ground. It’s not about us, it’s about our ancestors, and who we come from, that makes us who we are. If heaven truly is a place beyond our wildest imagination of tranquilty, then I know you’re up there, somewhere on a heather covered hillside, beating a new drum for all Scotland’s children to come hame.

“We will remember them” and in this case, Joe,

We will remember you,

 Godspeed &  Alba Gu Brath!

Tim

Joe with Fay King

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