Playing Funerals for the Fire Department

Recently I have had the privilege to perform the bagpipes for a number of fire departments in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. The effort that is put into creating a memorable funeral on the part of the fire department is remarkable. They are always well attended and the grandeur of the service is every bit as involved as a military or police funeral. In the towns and cities were I have played these funerals, there is a real sense of the loss to the community. The whole area has a very somber tone on the day of a fire fighters funeral.
One of the more memorable funerals that I have played in recent months was for a retired fire chief. They had three helecopters fly over the grave site and a procession that was about a mile and a half long from the church to the cemetery. I walked in front of the fire truck that was carrying the casket and played for the whole march. There was media coverage for the funeral as well. Being a part of a an event that had so much to it was a thrill.
Over the next few weeks, I will be contacting all the fire departments in the area in the hopes of developing relationships that will open more opportunities to be a part of these events. I also had a thought that I might start teaching a group lesson to a fire department and perhaps plant the seeds that would develop into a fire department pipe band. There are times that are slower at fire stations, and this might be a fun and unique way for these folks to spend there down time developing a unique skill and learning something new together. I look forward to hearing the reactions from the fire departments when I suggest it.
Thank you brave gentlemen and ladies for your dedicated service and for the opportunity to be a part of providing these fallen hero's with a special tribute.