On Jan. 28, 1986, seven astronauts lost their lives when the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
STS 51L – the mission’s official name – was to feature America’s first teacher in space, Sharon Christa McAuliffe.
Then-President Ronald Reagan addressed the stunned nation later that day. His closing line from his statement reads:
“The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.'”
John Gillespie Magee Jr. was a World War II Anglo-American Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot and poet, who wrote the poem “High Flight”. He was killed in an accidental mid-air collision over England in 1941.
He composed the following sonnet.
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sun ward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, – Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
Have you ever noticed a bagpipers knife? It is the wee knife displayed in the top of their kilt hose. The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic sgian-dubh. Pronounced skee-ən-DOO
The primary meaning of the term is Black Knife, refers not to the color but the hidden aspect of the knife. It would be carried under ones’ armpit or out of sight until needed. Scotland was a rough and tumble place in ancient history.
Courtesy and etiquette would demand that when entering the home of a friend, any concealed weapons would be revealed. Thus it follows that the knife would be removed from its hiding place and displayed in the stocking top held securely by the flashes.
The 1995 film Rob Roy staring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, has Ms. Lange playing Rob Roy’s wife. In order to keep from being blackmailed, Mrs. Roy cuts a rivals throat.
Quickly, silently as this knife was intended to be used, not very lady like but the end was achieved.
When piper Bill Millin crashed ashore at Sword Beach on D-Day 1944, he was armed only with his pipes and the sgian-dubh, or “black knife”, sheathed inside his kilt-hose on the right side.
A weary Uncle Sam looks out to sea, his face is that of every mother,
father and family in America; waiting, wondering and praying.
It is beyond the scope of this post to detail how the world came to
this fateful day. I can offer that while the entire world suffered The
Great Depression, Adolf Hitler in Germany seized power in the 1930’s.
He mesmerized the German people with a nationalist spirit of Aryan
superiority. He brought pride to the German population once again, put
bread in the mouths of the hungry, employment for the masses and blamed
others for the misfortune Germany had suffered with the loss of World
War 1. Quietly he rebuilt the armed forces again in violation of The
Treaty of Versailles that ended World War l. Other nations like Poland,
France and Russia to name a few were of lower breeding, and were to be
subjugated. The new Germany needed land.
Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. This was then the beginning of World War ll.
Quickly other European countries were being crushed by the ruthless speed and determination, so that in June of 1940 France fell to the German armies.
The countries in Red, are controlled by Nazi Germany.
Global domination seemed within reach.
The coast of France was turned into the Atlantic Wall, a Fortress
Europe defended heavily against invasion. An invasion that had to come
sooner or later to free those captive behind it.
The coast of France was turned into an Atlantic Wall, a Fortress
Europe defended heavily against invasion. An invasion that had to come
sooner or later to free those captive behind it.
Immediately work began in secret, British, French, Polish and American resources were launched. Churchill established the Special Operations Executive, whose task was to “set Europe ablaze” thus keeping the German troops busy behind the lines. Agents were dropped into France and worked with resistance fighters. The Polish contributed greatly to the breaking of the Enigma code. America fed resources to England and Russia to keep the battle front going. Countless American and English seaman died attempting to convoy needed goods across the Atlantic. Later the Americans established The Office of Strategic Services, who with the British armed and organized the resistance for the day of liberation.
Today 75 years ago the landing took place, in the early morning hours
American, British, Canada and other exiles of Europe dashed into the
unknown on French beachheads.
The link below will give a glimpse into what happened 75 years ago
this morning. These are actors retelling the tale for us. The events are
true and based on eyewitness account.
We join the American Forces in a landing craft, in bad weather and choppy seas.. (This is very graphic)
There is great flexibility depending on the desires of the family.
The following provides some suggestions based on the location.
At a Church or Memorial Hall
Before the Service
The bagpipe can be used very
effectively
as mourners arrive to create an air of solemnity and
reflection,
Additionally, I can meet a hearse, if appropriate and start the
processional of the service and lead the pall-bearers and casket to the front door.
At the end of the Service
If a casket is present, I can again lead the pall-bearers and casket back out
to to the waiting hearse, and continue playing as
the casket is being loaded. If there is no casket, or if the family
desires this instead, the piper can play near the door as the mourners
leave.
Playing At the Cemetery
Before the Service Begins
As the hearse arrives I start playing
so that as the family arrives they hear my bagpipe. I then stand at
attention, until clergy arrives. I speak with clergy and your attendant
about where and when I will play. As the pall-bearers take the casket
from the
hearse. I lead the procession to the grave site, playing a tune.
At the completion of the Service
When the clergy has concluded the
service, I play “Amazing
Grace” through once and slowly walk away into the distance. The music
will follow me and this is the appropriate time for final family
announcements by a funeral attendant.
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Aside from the periodic hum of a hovering MV-22 Osprey in the distance or the muted chatter of soldiers, sailors and Marines milling about in front of the stage, all else was silent. Then Lance Cpl. Rory MacEachern started to play
Lance Cpl. Rory MacEachern opened of Toby Keith on a USO tour. He captured everyones attention, maybe it was the sound of the bagpipe in such a far away location.
For the time being though, he is quite happy playing to his brothers and sisters in arms. In addition to the occasional evening performance here, MacEachern has treated the hundreds of newly-minted Marines and their families to an impromptu performance in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial upon graduating from recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. He also played as part of the graduation ceremonies upon completing military occupational specialty school aboard Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
According to MacEachern, it’s his personal way to keep spirits up. “A lot of people are pretty surprised to hear bagpipes playing out here,” he said. “I get mixed emotions – people love it or hate it – but, for the most part Marines seem to really like it. I think it helps bring morale up and that’s always a good thing out here.” Wayne Francis
Long ago I was contacted by a family to play at a graveside service.
Information such as time, place and fee were agreed to and all was set.
Right before our conversation ended, I was warned about the deceased man’s son,
he was “a strange sort of fellow”. I was cautioned that he might contact me and
request “Yankee Doodle” or something.
Well, the day came and I arrived early as I always do. I set up the pipe and warmed it up so as to be ready. I became aware of a man walking towards me, no doubt this was the son I was warned about.
We exchanged pleasantries and he said that at one time he was a drunk, a
thoroughly unreliable sort that the family had shunned and with good reason.
It seems he went to 12 step program and became sober and in his father’s
last year he was the primary care giver. This gentleman went on to say that no
one could understand the bond that his father and he had. That roles were
reversed and now he helped the father out the way a parent would help their
child.
He ended and smiled at me extending his hand to which I met with a firm handshake. This fellow requested that I play my best for his father, then he walked away into the cemetery.
I looked at my hand, and there in my palm was cash.
He returned when the hearse and procession arrived, and held his head down throughout the ceremony.
I realized that from this event, that all of us grieve the loss of a loved one in our unique way. There are similarities I am sure, but who knows the heart of another after all.
“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” was Rod Stewarts major hit in 1978, everywhere I went I heard the song. I was in the Baltimore City Pipe Band at the time, learning their band tunes and having fun. Rod Stewart is Scottish and very proud of his heritage. Mr Stewart was scheduled to perform in Baltimore and arrangements were made by his people to have the band open the show! In exchange we were given free admission to the concert. Talk about a win-win, and so when the date came around into the Civic Center we marched.
The band performed outstanding, marching up and down. We performed in a circle and then two pipers stole the show, they had worked out the settings of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” on the bagpipe! I remember hearing alot of clapping as those gathered, recognized that song.
We left the field and found our way to our seats, as we were sitting down a piper by the name of John, said “before this nights over I am going to be on that stage”! I thought it was the “beer” talking as we settled down for an outstanding show.
Rod Stewart came out and sung hit after hit, and I knew every one of them. I was surprised how many songs, one after another I knew. His performance was fun, no standing in one place, he was all over the stage. At one time someone in the side wing would feed him soccer balls and he would lightly kick them to all points in the crowd.
I sensed the end of the show was coming up so I availed myself to the facilities to beat the rush at the end.
I returned to my seat, and there up on the stage is the entire band! Pipers and Drummers dancing their hearts out as Rod continued to sing amongst all of them. What a night, the band members still tell the new pipers and drummers about the time they opened for Rod Stewart to this day.
In England recently, Red Hot Chili Peppers fan Duncan Robb found bargain tickets online to see what he thought was his girlfriend’s favorite band, in a Belfast, Ireland show. It was supposed to be a Christmas gift to her. The tickets came in the mail, the flights were booked and the couples’ getaway was a go.
But on the Wednesday before the Saturday show, Robb’s girlfriend double-checked the tickets only to find that he had not bought them passes to see the foremost purveyors of California funk-rock. Instead, the tickets were for Red Hot Chilli Pipers, a musical act self-billed as “the most famous bagpipe band on the planet.”
Even though it was likely no match to seeing “Californication” or “Under the Bridge” live, the couple attended the show and enjoyed themselves. Robb described it on Twitter as “an experience,” seemingly impressed by “the variety of songs they could play” on the pipes.
Poppys grow wild amongst the ruins of WW1 Fortification
This war was called “The Great War”, in retrospect. New technologies delivered death on an unheard of scale just years before. The airplane, machine gun, tanks and poisonus gas made killing easier and faster. The accuracy of exsisting weapons such as the rifle and cannon were sharpened as well. Armies faced off against each other from protective trenches dug in the ground, the land in between was called “no mans land” for good reason. Constant shelling and bombarment made recovering the dead impossible.
Poppies were a common sight, especially on the Western Front. They flourished in the soil churned up by the fighting and shelling. The flower provided Canadian doctor John McCrae with inspiration for his poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, which he wrote whilst serving in Ypres in 1915.I
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
A paper poppy was eventually adopted by the British and Canadian Legions as the symbol of remembrance of World War One and a means of raising funds for disabled veterans. An American war volunteer, Moina Michael, helped establish the symbol in the US where the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion also embraced the Red Paper Poppy tradition. The America Leigon celebrates National Poppy Day on May 25th. It is strongly linked with Armistice Day in the UK (11 November)
Actual photograph taken as Piper Bill Millen leaves landing craft, onto Sword Beach
World War ll
The most famous bagpiper of WWII is Bill Millin. He was born in Regina, Saskatchewan in July of 1922. He grew up in Scotland, His family moved there when he was three. Millin joined the Territorial Army and played in the pipe bands of the Highland Light Infantry and the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders before volunteering for service in WWII.
Bill Millin was a member of No. 4 Commando, part of the 1st Special Services Brigade. His commanding officer was the 15th Lord Lovat, Simon Fraser, who appointed Millin as his “personal piper.”
No. 4 Commando took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy on Sword Beach. They landed about 30 minutes behind the initial assault under heavy fire. Lord Lovat asked Millin to play the troops ashore, against regulations. After some hesitation he agreed.
Millin was one of the first people off the landing craft. His only weapon was his sgian dubh. He wore his commando jacket and green beret along with the kilt that his father had worn in Flanders in the First World War. The soldier next to him was killed almost as soon as the ramp came down.
Bill Millin waded through water 3 feet deep to shore and then proceeded to march back and forth across the beach, 3 times, while under heavy machine-gun fire, as the rest of the unit came ashore. He played the tunes “Highland Laddie,” The Road to the Isles,” and “Blue Bonnets over the Border.” A captured German gunner later said they didn’t shoot him because they thought he had gone mad.
After the landing, No. 4 Commando moved inland to help secure Pegasus Bridge which was held by members of the 6th Airborne Division. Millin played “The Nut Brown Maiden” as They crossed the bridge.
On August 7, 2013 a statue of him, playing the bagpipes, was unveild and dedicated at a memorial on Sword Beach.
After the war, Bill can be seen in the movie “The Longest Day” he plays himself, this time landing with actors instead of troops.
Pipers blog 