Quick March

What an Honor and a Priviledge we had today! Myself and Drum Sergeant Shumaker participated in a joint combination 9-11 Service and   the Un Casing of the Colors Ceremony for the newly relocated United States Army Ordinance Corps at Ft. Lee today. The US Army Ordinance Corps has been headquartered at Aberdeen Maryland for 92 years, and it took an Act of Congress to move them to Ft Lee, literally.

Before and after the hour long ceremony, CO Brigadier General Collyar, and RCSM Sergeant Major Brooks made a point to come speak with us, and we thoroughly appreciate the enthusiasm they bring to the Post.  We also got to see a few familiar faces we have become quite good friends with from the post, such as CWO Wallace of the 392nd Army Band and many others. The Ordinance Corps, itself, will bring 4,000 more personnel to Ft Lee over the next two years.  The first portion of the ceremony consisted of Officially Un Casing the Colors of the Ordinance Corps, and the latter portion paid honor and tribute to the 20 members from the Army, Airforce and Marines, that were killed in action this past year. As each deceased soldier, airman and Marine’s name was read, a representavive of their branch, marched up, placed a set of dog tags on the memorial and saluted, as we played a solemn lament.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Drum Sergeant Shumaker and myself were first presented the Award for Excellence in our Craft, by Regimental Command Sergeant Major Brooks, and then received an Award For Excellence by Brigadier General Collyar.  An officer afterwards whispered into our ears, that in all his years under their command, he had only seen a very select few receive either awards. We surely feel honored.

 Other Corps groups are also relocating to Ft Lee. When it’s all said and done, Ft Lee will probably be the largest multi Training Base in the country. Nothing happens by coincidence, and I’m proud that we as the SALPD are right there with them to be there for their ceremonial needs.

psssst…. not to mention, there’s a few of my brother Devil Dogs there too!

PM MacLeod

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September is here and that can only mean two things. 1) The start of new school year and 2) The mad rush of piping gigs until the end of the year. We have three events coming up in the next two weeks. The first is at First Baptist Church on September 10th and is a tribute to Fire, Police, and EMS as well a 9/11 remembrance. Here is the flyer from First Baptist with more information. (Click here) Next is the Commonwealth Polo Match on Sunday September 13th. This is an event we have done several times but is now moving to a new location and is combining with the Wine Festival. This is the 24th annual polo match pitting an all star American team against an all star English team. Proceeds from the event provide funding for the Great Meadow Foundation and projects that support British and American servicemen and women all over the world through the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to implementing initiatives that honor and empower our national heros. Please come help us continue this old tradition in a new venue. (This is the same place as the Virginia Highland Games) For more information please check out the site www.winefestivalattheplains.com Next on the docket is a performance for the Scottish Society of Richmond on Thursday September 17th. If you have any interest in joining the Society please see their site print out an application and bring it with you. The meeting features a “Taste of Scotland”. The band was invited to this meeting last year as well and there is some delicious food to be had here. Last but not least for the month of September is a very special performance for the First Lady Michele Obama and the Black Women United for Action event. www.bwufa.org

October brings the Williamsburg Games and the new/old Meadow Highland Games (formerly the Richmond Games) Urbana and St. Andrew’s Day in November and the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk in December. This time of year is a near sprint to the next event. But its an honor to perform at them all. Another thing that we encourage all of you to do is check out the pipe band competitions at the various Festivals and root for GRPD. We have come a long way in improving our sound with the help of our friends in that band. We now have several members who are competing with them and still performing with us. GRPD is an amazing band and we are privileged to have them helping us. Hopefully this is leading to one or two combined performances a year in addition to our performance with them at the Irish Festival.

So as we take off on our busy part of the year we’d like to wish all the students headed back the best of luck in the coming year. Cool air and crisp leaves are almost here and with it comes the skirl of the pipes and lots of Celtic fun. Thank you all for your support and we hope to see you very soon.

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We had a great time at the Virginia Scottish Games on Saturday. Most of the day was spent amidst all the piping and drumming competition.  The “itch” or “fever” got worse throughout the day as we watched Greater Richmond Pipes & Drums put on both solo and band performances. Alex McGrath did his first solo and I think it made him feel very good to see us there to support him and Steve McNeer. To see SALPD badges on glengarrys out there on the field, makes me feel good. Thank you Steve for acknowledging me as your mentor and teacher over the years. (shame some of my thunder has been stolen or not mentioned by others over the years) Now you’ve been passed on to Master Yoda (Chance) LOL, and the rest.

Yesterday was Steve’s first band competition. Chance Bell took 1st place in the Grade 1 Solo Piping. More took first and second places, but I don’t have all the details as of right now, but shall post later.

 GRPD grade 5 took 2nd and GRPD grade 4 took 1st place.  I love GreatMeadows surely for one thing, it puts the band cometition right in the middle of everything, and crowds seem to gather more to watch. GRPD in my opinion blew everyone away when they did the Grade 3 challenge. The judges commented very highly on their arrangement on all the score sheets.

Now all the bands get to go back home and prepare for the next two festivals, Williamsburg & Meadows (formerly RHGCF) Counting in Virginia Scottish Games, it makes for a two edged sword for the bands. On one hand, it tires everyone out preparing, but at same time, gives a band to critique what mistakes have been made, while everything is fresh in the collective mind of the band.

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