Band formation, 1995
The Massachusetts State Police Pipes and Drums was conceived in 1994, after the tragic line of duty death of Trooper Mark S. Charbonnier. At the funeral service for Trooper Charbonnier , the Massachusetts State Police had no bagpiper to play during the solemn service and a desire arose for a job corps of bagpipers.
At the same time, Mr. Iain Massie, a Scotsman and former piper in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, wrote a letter to then Superintendent, Colonel Charles Henderson, suggesting the formation of a pipe band. Mr. Massie had been a bagpipe instructor at the Scottish Infantry School of Music in Aberdeen, Scotland, was a certified Pipe-Major from the Army School of Piping of Edinburgh, Scotland, and had a Senior Teacher Certificate and Graduate Degree from the Institute of Piping, Glasgow, Scotland.
Captain Robert Bird of the Public Affairs Section was directed by Deputy Superintendent Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Kennedy to seek interested members of the department. On October 26, 1994 Superintendent Colonel Charles Henderson authorized a teletype item seeking volunteers for forming a bagpipe and drum unit. On December 1, 1994 the first meeting of troopers interested in forming the Pipes and Drums was held at the General Headquarters in Framingham. Mr. Massie proposed to those present that a corp of sworn Massachusetts State Police Troopers undertake the formation of a volunteer pipe and drum band. The playing standards and dress standards would be of the highest possible caliber, in keeping with the prestigious tradition of the Massachusetts State Police, and to proudly represent the job throughout the Commonwealth and the Nation.
The initial training for a bagpiper requires a great deal of practice and commitment, with nearly three years of training before being ready to fully perform a variety of the band music. The Pipes and Drums was officially established in January of 1995 when the lessons began. For nearly two years the founding members of the band worked to acquire the skills necessary for them to perform in public, and the band had their debut performance in June of 1996 at the Massachusetts State Police Memorial Service. The band performed in their class A uniform, and although it was June, they wore garrison covers. The summer campaign cover could not be worn because the drones of the bagpipes constantly struck the covers, knocking them askew. There were only six original members at that performance, all of whom were bagpipers: Michael Wilmot, Armand Ouellette, Sean Maloney, Richard Cronin, Robert Harrington and Joseph Liberty.
The band grew to sixteen members over the next two years, and as part of beginning the incorporation process, elected band officers. There were fourteen sworn members: Michael Wilmot (President), Jerry Tully (Vice President), Sean Maloney (Secretary), Richard Cronin (Treasurer), Joseph Liberty, William Nee, Robert Harrington, Thomas McCarthy, James Galvin, John Farnham, Jim Hall, David Oxner, Walter Pomerleau and Frank Ardita. The two civilian members of the band, Joseph Risteen and Paul McNealy, were grandfathered into the band at its inception, with the understanding that no further civilians would be accepted into the band. Unlike most police and fire bands, The Massachusetts State Police Pipes and Drums restricted membership in the band to active and retired members of the Massachusetts State Police.
On March 26, 1997, after conferring with the department staff counsel, Superintendent Colonel Reed Hillman authorized the use of the name ‘Massachusetts State Police Pipes and Drums’ and approved the current shoulder patch of the band. The band incorporated as a non-profit organization in June of 1997. Band uniforms were designed and purchased, complete with kilts and insignia. The tartan pattern worn is MacBeth, which honors the colors of first responders with shades of blue, red, yellow, and white. Later in 1997, Edward Horton became the drum major, completing a full parade-ready pipes and drums band. The drum major carries the Department fallen with him, with the name of every Department member killed in the line of duty, including their end of watch date, on a scroll displayed on the drum majors' sash.
The band has enjoyed thirty years of performing at various functions all over Massachusetts, and around the nation. They have had the honor of playing in Washington D.C. during Police Week, Annapolis, MD for the St. Patrick's Parade, Fenway Park to honor the victims of the Marathon bombings, and were the host band for the National Troopers Coalition gathering in 2010. In 2021, the band entered its first ever professional competition. Competing at the Maine Highland Games, the band placed second overall out of seven bands, in Grade 5. Even more impressive, the Pipe Corps was awarded first place by the piping judges. The band hopes to return to more professional contests in the coming years, and will always support and honor our fellow first responders across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and across our nation.