FYI...Non Valk

[DIGGER]

A Houston Texas Firefighter died while fighting a fire recently.  He was ceremonially put to rest today.   
During his funeral bagpipes were used and I have noticed over the years that bagpipes are played at Firefighter funerals so I Googled the subject and found this explanation.   It is a custom from many years ago brought here by the Irish and Swedish Immigrants.

People also ask

Why do they have bagpipes at firefighter funerals?


It was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed at a working fire. The Irish firefighters' funerals were typical of all Irish funerals - the pipes were played. It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter to cry at the sound of bagpipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade.

[3fan4life]

Sadly, I have attended the funerals of fellow Fire Fighters.

The Bagpipes are a great tribute!

I didn't know the history of why they are played.

[da prez]

   Same but different.  Bonnie (RIP) was Scottish. At our wedding , she/we wanted a bagpiper. I am Irish/German descent.  She found a bagpiper and in conversation , asked if he was a big man. He was.
  There were only a few people that knew about the piper.
  The ceremony was at the home we built. He was in the lower level (basement). On que , he started playing and came upstairs ,thru the kitchen , great room and upstairs to the loft. The house rumbled. At first a few guests got nervous. He played a couple tunes and then the ceremony. After the vows , he was instructed to play Amazing Grace.  It is a funeral song.  After he played , it was explained that it was the death of Bonnie and My loneliness.  She died over a year ago , but she will always be a part of me where ever life takes me next!

                                                              da prez

[Serk]

Lovely Story Da Prez!

I have a Valk related Bagpipe story...

I love bagpipe music, usually more modern pipe and drum bands (Search Tartanic on Youtube for a taste)

Many MANY years ago I was riding my Valk on a VSG (Long defunct Texas based sister org to the VRCC) group ride through the Texas Hill Country....

Enjoying the ride, enjoying the curves, and enjoying some loud bagpipe music on the speakers I had on the Valk at the time.

At an overlook rest stop one of my fellow riders approached me and said "PLEASE tell me that was you listening to bagpipe music?"

Confused "Yes, it was? Why?"

"I'm a cop. Normally the only time I hear the pipes is when I'm burying a fallen brother. I thought I might be getting a premonition wafting on the wind that the next curve would be my last..."

[Jersey mike]

   Same but different.  Bonnie (RIP) was Scottish. At our wedding , she/we wanted a bagpiper. I am Irish/German descent.  She found a bagpiper and in conversation , asked if he was a big man. He was.
  There were only a few people that knew about the piper.
  The ceremony was at the home we built. He was in the lower level (basement). On que , he started playing and came upstairs ,thru the kitchen , great room and upstairs to the loft. The house rumbled. At first a few guests got nervous. He played a couple tunes and then the ceremony. After the vows , he was instructed to play Amazing Grace.  It is a funeral song.  After he played , it was explained that it was the death of Bonnie and My loneliness.  She died over a year ago , but she will always be a part of me where ever life takes me next!

                                                              da prez

That’s a good story and memory.

My wife’s aunt was Scottish and when she passed, at the cemetery there was a piper…on a small hill away from us, not too close yet not too far Playing Amazing Grace. It was a beautiful touch.

[Jess from VA]

Lovely Story Da Prez!

I have a Valk related Bagpipe story...

I love bagpipe music, usually more modern pipe and drum bands (Search Tartanic on Youtube for a taste)

Many MANY years ago I was riding my Valk on a VSG (Long defunct Texas based sister org to the VRCC) group ride through the Texas Hill Country....

Enjoying the ride, enjoying the curves, and enjoying some loud bagpipe music on the speakers I had on the Valk at the time.

At an overlook rest stop one of my fellow riders approached me and said "PLEASE tell me that was you listening to bagpipe music?"

Confused "Yes, it was? Why?"

"I'm a cop. Normally the only time I hear the pipes is when I'm burying a fallen brother. I thought I might be getting a premonition wafting on the wind that the next curve would be my last..."

That's funny.
 

Twice riding the bike the other day, I smelled something burning.

Oh no, not that.  I stopped and looked the bike over but found nothing.

The third time I smelled it, I realized it was wood smoke from people's fireplaces and wood stoves (only in cold weather, like now).   

[old2soon]

     On a P G R Mission some years back at Jefferso Barracks in St. Louis Mo. 2 Bagpipers were in attendance as we laid a Brother to rest. Amazing Grace and the notes rolled away over the hills there. Not a dry eye amongst all those Old Gnarly Veterans me included. And I Do enjoy the pipes. RIDE SAFE.