Check Out Joe Brady’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Brady.

Hi Joe, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our mission is to provide a distinguished tribute FOR OUR FALLEN comrades – and to be of service to the family, friends, and co-workers of public safety employees of Raleigh, Wake County, and all those who serve and protect in the State of North Carolina.

We desire to strengthen relations between the protective services and the public and to preserve cultural heritage and enrich our community by providing traditional Bagpipe and Drum music. Today, the sound of the pipes together with the slow beat of the drums have come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero’s funeral. FOR OUR FALLEN is everything we stand for.

The rank and file of our organization are from numerous public safety agencies in the RDU region – alongside active and retired members of the United States Military. In addition to those public safety and military members, we are proud to be one of a handful of public safety bands that allow family members and friends to join our ranks. We take great pride in all we have accomplished and realize there is always a higher level of excellence to be won. We strive to be humble and grateful for our members, our collective talents and hard work, and the opportunities we have to perform and grow.

OUR FOUNDING
A district is a term for a type of administrative division. Entities known as districts vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.

The Wake & District Public Safety Pipes and Drums call Raleigh, North Carolina home. Raleigh sits in the Capitol District of the State of North Carolina; Wake County. We wanted to start a pipe band but did not have enough members to field our own “Raleigh” band – so reached out to regions or districts to support our mission. Informing the band we relied on these districts to draw members from and we support the men and women who serve as public safety offices in Durham County, Orange County Wake County, Johnston County, and Nash County among others.

THE EARLY DAYS

In 2005, under the leadership of veteran Chicago police officer and long-time piper Joe Brady, the members of the Carolina Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society had worked in the Johnston County area under the leadership of Chief Gary Ragland to build a public safety pipe band. At the same time, an interest in piping was growing within the Wake County EMS Division as several interested potential piping students pressed Wake County EMS Chief and resident piper – Skip Kirkwood – to help them learn to play the pipes (one of those interested medics was Assistant Tony Crawford).

On May 6, 2006 – while attending the dedication of the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Raleigh, Brady (that day performing with the Charlotte Fire Department pipe band) met Crawford. Also in attendance that day were Raleigh Firefighters Jason Lane, Joe Harwell, Lloyd Johnson, and Garner Firefighter Michael Bishop. A series of meetings were held, which concluded with an agreement to form a new band that would incorporate both the Johnston County contingent and the public safety community from Wake County and the surrounding areas. A date was picked for an organizational meeting. Chief Kirkwood sent a letter of invitation to 65 public safety agency heads in the east-central region of North Carolina, soliciting the participation of pipers, drummers, and those interested in learning.

On June 8, 2006 – an organizational meeting was held at the EMS Training Center in the Wake Commons Business Park. Some 50 law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics, and public safety supporters attended. Experienced players began “tuning up” and students were provided information about obtaining practice chanters, drum sticks, and practice pads. A regular schedule of Wednesday – Thursday practice sessions was established, based at the Wake County EMS Training Center on Carya Drive in Raleigh… On July 9, another letter went out to the public safety chief officers, inviting them to engage the band for ceremonial occasions within their agencies. It didn’t take long!

​A date was set for the band’s first official fund-raising event, “the Tartan Ball” – which would be held on November 18, 2006. An event committee, headed by Garner Fire Captain/piper Mike Bishop, assisted by Raleigh Fire Lieutenant/Drum Major Jason Lane and Raleigh Fire Captain/piper Lloyd Johnson, geared up and got to work. The event was held at the Raleigh Fireman’s Club on Bay Leaf Church Road and saw a capacity crowd of over 250 fans, friends, and family. A great time was had, with Irish and Scottish Dancers, a ceilidh band, and of course the Pipes and Drums. This event netted $3,200, which will go right toward outfitting more band members with Black Stewart band kilts, as well as adding a couple of more drums to the mix

More history at https://www.raleighpipeband.com/history

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We tell our member’s Pipe band is tough and to 𝘽𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧. People will just up and quit your band, no one will show up to events, you will struggle to learn new things. The pipe band is tough for everyone involved. This is the difference between success and failure. The hard times make us stronger people and better players. Learn and grow from them. If it was easy, everyone would have a big and brilliant band.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are a bagpipe and drum band. Our primary purpose is to play at funerals of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. We promote cultural heritage by teaching the Scottish arts of bagpipes and drums.

We compete across North America- and hope to go to Scotland in 2023.

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Bagpipes are not an “Irish” thing.

The tradition of bagpipes and drums played at the fire department and police department funerals in the United States of America goes back over 150 years.

When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to the States, they brought many of their customs with them. One of these was the bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals, and Céilís. Those who have been to funerals when bagpipes play, know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. Before too long, families and friends of non-Irish firefighters and police officers began asking for pipe bands to play for these fallen heroes. The pipes and drums add a special air and dignity to the solemn occasion.

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. The Wake and District Public Safety Pipe Band was formed in May of 2006 and originated out of the idea we need to better recognize and thank the individuals who risk their lives on a daily basis for the safety of the community. In addition to this goal this group strives to honor those heroes who have lost their lives in these endeavors.

​These heroes are no longer with us. But we can tell you in our hearts, we will always remember and be grateful for your husband, your wife, your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, your daughter, your son. We will make sure that their names and their memories live on in the hearts, minds, and souls of our community for generations to come.

​This is our commitment.

​This is our duty.

​FOR OUR FALLEN

Contact Info:

• Email: info@raleighpipeband.com
• Website: www.raleighpipeband.com
• Instagram: @RaleighPIpeBand
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raleighpipeband
• Twitter: @RaleighPipeBand
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/forourfallen
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/forourfallen
• Other: https://raleighpipeband.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Wake and District Pipe Band