Page 4 - PGA Community News - April '23

Page 4, PGA C.A.N.! April 2023 April 2023
Professional Firefighters/Paramedics

Of Palm Beach County

Bagpipes In The Fire Service One of the Irish traditions
they brought with them was
If you were enjoying some of the St. Patrick’s Day the bagpipes. In an effort to
festivities in Abacoa, or the parade in Delray Beach, you keep their traditions alive, the
may have noticed firefighters in kilts with bagpipes. firefighters would play the
Celebrations featuring fire department Honor Guards bagpipes while at work, and
and Pipes and Drums bands take place across the United over time it became part of the
States, and especially in the Northeast as part of St. firefighter culture.
Patrick’s Day festivities. Few things evoke a
This often piques the curiosity about the relationship firefighter’s emotions like
firefighters and police officers have with the bagpipes, the sounds of pipes and
and how it has become part of our tradition. drums. Feelings of pride and
In the mid-1800s, there was a massive migration of joy swell a firefighter’s heart
Irish to the United States, mainly to cities in the Northeast. when listening to up-tempo
This was due largely in part to the potato famine in Ireland Irish and Scottish tunes at
prompting people to search for a better life. a joyous occasion, just as
Initially, the Irish were not welcomed here, and as the ever-present pride and
they searched for jobs, they were usually greeted by signs overwhelming sorrow breaks
stating, “Irish need not apply.” the firefighter’s heart when
Becoming desperate to earn money to support their hearing the wail of Amazing Grace at the funeral for a Steen Eriksson,
families, they took the jobs that no one else wanted fallen firefighter killed in the line of duty. Community Relations-HOA North,
because it was a dirty, dangerous and physically Next time you hear a fire department pipes and drums Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of
demanding way to earn very little pay and even less band, please remember just how it came to be such a Palm Beach County, IAFF Local 2928
respect. They became firefighters and police officers. deep-rooted part of our tradition. HOAN@iaff2928.com

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