TheLaramie County Sheriff's Office Pipes & Drums was formed in 2006by Sheriff Danny Glick. The band members are a mix of members of the Laramie CountySheriffs' Office, Homeland Security, and citizens whohave a keen interest in Piping. The band playsseveral community events as well as parades, funerals andmemorials and will function as part of the Laramie CountySheriff's Office Color Guard. The band uniformis comprised of a white dress uniform shirt and a Kilt inthe Black Stewart Tartan. The Black Stewart Tartanwas chosen because the colors of the Tartan are the sameas those of the State of Wyoming. The red representsthe Indians and the blood of the pioneers who gave theirlives reclaiming the soil. White is the emblemof purity and uprightness over Wyoming. Blue, the color of the sky and mountains.

Thetradition of bagpipes played at police or fire departmentfunerals in the United States go back over one hundred fiftyyears. Whenthe Irish and Scottish immigrated to this country, they broughtmany of their traditions with them. One of these was thebagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and ceilis (dances).

It wasn'tuntil the great potato famine and massive Irish immigrationto the East Coast of the United States that the traditionof the pipes really took hold in police and fire departments. Factoriesand shops had signs reading "NINA"-No Irish Need Apply. Theonly jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted – jobs that were dirty, dangerous or both - fire-fightersand police officers. The police and firefightersfunerals were typical of all Scottish and Irish funerals-thepipes were played. It was somehow okay for ahardened firefighter or police officer to cry at the soundof pipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallencomrade.

Thosewho have been to funerals when bagpipes play knows how hauntingand mournful the sound of the pipes can be. Before too long,families and friends of non-Scottish or Irish police officersor firefighters began asking for the piper to play for thesefallen heroes. The pipes add a special air anddignity to the solemn occasion. Associated withcities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago,pipe bands representing both fire and police often have morethan 60 uniformed members. They are also traditionallyknown as Emerald Societies after Ireland-the Emerald Isle. Manybands wear traditional Scottish dress while others wear thesimpler Irish uniform. All members wear the kiltand tunic, whether it is a Scottish clan tartan or Irishsingle color kilt. Today, the tradition is universal andnot just for the Irish or Scottish. The pipeshave come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero'sfuneral.

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office Pipes and Drums participates in local parades throught Laramie County. Band members have been asked to play at the funerals of Wyoming Law Enforcemet Officers, Memorial Day services, and to participate in the Jackson Hole Fourth of July parade with the Jackson Hole Fire/Ems Honor Guard.

Pipes and Drums at Wheatland Memorial Day Service.

Members of the band with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Honor Guard.

Jackson Hole Fourth of July Parade.

Band members entertained the crowd after the parade.