jlee's blog

James Dowdell, Liam Flaherty and Kevin O'Connor are in for the run of their lives! They left the Santa Monica Pier on August 11th and will arrive at the WTC Site on the morning of September 11th. Here is a nice artice about it!

The FDNY Pipes and Drums took out 2 bands yesterday the 22nd of August at the annual Hunter Mountain Irish Festival. The Grade 5 band which made its debut in absolutely horrid conditions which included rain and wind had a good run and placed 4th out of 17 bands! They took first place in the ensemble category as well! The Grade 5 band hopes to have further success this year at their next outing!

The Grade 4 band had to play their Medley selection and was a bit luckier with the weather, but not to much! They went out with a good sound and played well. They ended up capturing the 2nd place trophy out of 10 bands, a job well done!  See below to watch the videos of the bands!

Grade 4 Band video 

Grade 5 Band video 

The FDNY Pipes and Drums became aware of a US Marine who lost his Bagpipes in a fire at his camp in Afghanistan. While fighting the fire a sever dust storm brewed up and forced the Marines to retreat until it subsided. In the end the Marines lost an enormous amount of property much of it personal. One of the items was a set of Hardie bagpipes that was played by a Marine Lieutenant. Pipe Major of the Cal Fire Pipe Band Charlie Martin contacted one of our members to make us aware of this situation and to see if we could help. After little discussion amongst the band members we decided that we wanted to help out in any way we could. We were put in touch with Marty Walsh a retired Philadelphia Fireman who runs operation caregiver. Marty moved out to San Diego after he retired from the PFD and became involved with SDFD ES. Marty decided to spearhead this effort and due to his hard work a set of pipes was purchased and sent to Afghanistan to the Lieutenant. We will hopefully be able to proved a picture of the Lt. playing his new pipes! It was a pleasure for the FDNY Pipes and Drums to make a monetary donation to be able to help one of our nations soldiers in a time of need as they are always ready to help us!

The Grade 4 FDNY Pipes and Drums Competition band took a resounding 1st place on July 18th at the Rockland County Feis! Four bands competed in Grade 4 in the sweltering heat and the FDNY came out on top taking 1st in every category across the board! Congratulations to our members who sweated it out and brought it home!

Pipe Band Grade IV

Medley (4 Bands)
Judges: Piping-Duncan Bell, Adam Holdaway, John L Bottomley; Ensemble-John Wassman; Drumming-Martin Beaton;
1. NYC Fire Dept Em Society P & D 1-1-1-1-1
2. NYPD Em. Soc. P&D Gr 4 2-3-2-3-2
3. Martin Duffy Memorial PB 3-2-3-2-3
4. Mohawk Valley Frasers 4 4-4-4-4-4

Drum Major Liam Flaherty (Rescue 2), Bagpiper Kevin O'Connor (Engine 37) and Snare Drummer James Dowdell (Ladder 174) will be running from LA to NY to remember the first responders that were killed on 9/11. Below is an excerpt from the tour of duty web site. To see all of the info and track the run click here.

The Tour of Duty Run is a journey that will end in New York City, early on the morning of September 11 2010. The fire-fighters and emergency service workers of America and Australia will come together as allies to remember our fallen colleagues, our brothers and sisters, our family.

We run to remember them. First and foremost this is our purpose and intent, to honour their sacrifice, respect their courage, and appreciate their commitment to service and devotion to duty. To remember them and their humanity. We also begin this journey with an understanding that so many people have suffered and are suffering to this day, the survivors, the loved ones left behind, the workers involved in reclaiming the World Trade Centre Site, the families, friends and co workers of the passengers and crews of the American Airlines and United Airlines Flights, the emotional and physical scars of this attack are devastating and potentially far more reaching than we can imagine. It has changed our world, irreversibly, forever.

It is our duty to remember what happened on September 11 and reinforce all that is good about humanity.

We also see the run as an opportunity to acknowledge emergency services globally. Every day on every continent people are giving of their lives, risking their lives so our world can be a safer place. The military, police, fire and medical services represent just some of the people that give of themselves, so others may live a better life, their service can never be underestimated.

Our journey begins on August the 12th, we fill our shoes and start to run from the Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles at 8.46 a.m., we ask you to share our journey, to remember with us, our family, the people that have suffered and are suffering still, and the people globally that have served and will continue to serve to make our world a better place. Share this run, via the web and if we happen to be anywhere near your ballpark, fill your shoes and share the load, run with us and remember.

The FDNY Pipes and Drums would like to congratulate Joe Duggan on his promotion to Battalion Chief effective July 3rd. Joe has been assigned to the 35 Battalion in Brooklyn, joining one of our other Pipers and Chiefs Pete Gannon. Congrats again Joe, your promotion is well deserved!

On Saturday June 5th Liam was honored along with Robert ”Skipp” Sudduth (Third Watch) Actor, Director and Jennifer McNamara, Esq. Widow of FF John McNamara (Engine 234). The event was held at The Old Stonehouse park in Park Slope Brooklyn. There was a few Celebrities on hand including the MC of the night Steve Buschemi who is a former FDNY Fireman. The FDNY Pipes and Drums played for the honorees and enjoyed a nice night after that. For more information or to support the Friends of Firefighter please visit their web site.

The FDNY Pipes and Drums was called on to help a 2 year daughter of a Nashville Firefighter who is sufferring from Cancer. We didn't even hesitate to get on a plane and fly down to open up a concert that was held to raise funds. There were many Country Artists on hand to help her out including Vince Gill and the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band. It was an Honor to be called on to help this little girl. The Nashville FD was more than hospitable, when we arrived they had us picked up at the airport and took us right to the Firehouse for a nice Southern Meal. For more info on the event click any of the links below.

WKRN - 2

Nashville Scene

Saturday June 19th, a piece of the World Trade Center towers from New York was dedicated in Colorado Springs. The memorial is not only a way to honor those lives lost on September 11, 2001, but also a way to recognize those soldiers who have given their lives since that day. For the rest of this story and video click here.

From the Daily News:
McANDREWS- Patrick H, (83).Born November 5, 1926 died peacefully on February 24, 2010. Formerly of Pitcairn,PA, Manhattan and the Bronx, New York. 43 year resident of Glen Rock, NJ and 50 year resident of Long Beach, NY. Retired NYC Fire Department. Thirty year member of Engine 60/Bronx,NY. Original member of the Emerald Society Bagpipe Band. Member of the Fire Department Holy Name Society and Emerald Society. World War II and Korean War Navy Seabee Veteran. Lifetime member of the Glen Rock Ambulance Corps. Beloved husband of the late Dorothy (NEE: McArdle). Loving father of Patricia Ann McAndrews-Meaney. Dearf ather-in-law of Robert E.Meaney. Cherished grandfather of Patrick James Meaney and Dierdre Ann Meaney. Survived by sisters, Mary O’Neill (nee McAndrews). Kathleen Cassidy (nee McAndrews), Eileen Cunningham (nee McAndrews) and brother James McAndrews