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AF Pipe Band rocks diverse audiences

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christi Wright
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Instead of an M-16, they carry a Sgian Dubh, a small dagger, tucked into their knee-high socks. A sporran serves the purpose of their cargo pockets, and leather brogues take the place of tightly-laced combat boots.

Though these Airmen wear kilts and play the bagpipes, they are not from the Royal Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force Pipe Band, an element of the Band of the United States Air Force Reserve, is one of the most colorful and unique units in the Air Force today. The Pipe Band visited Utah Sept. 7 - 9 to play at several different venues in an effort to support community relations efforts.

The six-member band piped old tunes, like Danny Boy, as well as new tunes, from groups like SheDaisy, with the accompaniment of a bass guitar, drums and keyboard to create a fusion of traditional Celtic and rock music. The resulting sound had a mass appeal to all ages.

"This is the biggest audience we've had for a lunch concert," said Pauline Fonua, the activities vice president for the Salt Lake Community College at the Redwood campus. "We really want to have them play again."

The band played at SLCC Sept. 8. The group also played a free concert at the end of the Salute to Our Hometown Military Heroes event at the Davis Conference Center Sept. 7. On Sept. 9, the Utah State Fair hosted the Pipe Band for an evening concert.

Maj. David Graff, a 419th performance management officer, was at the fair and enjoyed the concert despite the chilly weather.

"The performance was great," said Graff. "I liked the Celtic sound and their kilts."

Regardless of their differing uniforms, all members of the self-sufficient band function in many capacities.

"I play the drums and I am also the supply guy," noted band member Senior Airman Michael Henrie. "There are a lot of different ensembles in addition to the actual band, and each member participates in several ensembles."

The versatility of the Band of the Air Force Reserve and its members has made them a mainstay in the civilian and military music worlds.

Originally formed in September 1961, the unit represents the United States Armed Forces as one of only two active duty bagpipe bands. Since the Pipe Band's inception, their fame and performances have spread throughout the globe.

In May 1992 the Pipe Band, combined with the Ceremonial Band, became the first foreign military unit to march through Red Square in Moscow and three years later performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia, as the only foreign unit in the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day parade.

Since 1993 the Pipe Band has been invited each year on Saint Patrick's Day to perform for the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Ireland at the Capitol steps with traditional Scottish bagpipe music.

In addition to playing at large-scale events like base open houses, dinings-in, change of command ceremonies, and base retreat ceremonies, the band launches Operation Season's Greetings each year in December. They perform at dozens of deployed locations with other big-name bands as a morale booster for troops fighting on and protecting foreign soil.

All members of the Air Force Reserve Pipe Band are professional Air Force musicians working in support of Air Force and Air Force Reserve recruiting and community relations objectives.