Posted on 09/10/2006 7:09:13 PM PDT by sionnsar
CLEVELAND, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Sword of Light," a critically acclaimed bagpipe band consisting of members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union will present a musical tribute honoring the heroes of 9-11 on Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, at 12:30 p.m. aboard the U.S.S. COD Submarine Memorial on Cleveland's lakefront.
The "Sword of Light" band is based in New York City and will be in Cleveland on Monday morning to open the IBEW Convention, where they will perform for more than 6,000 IBEW delegates and participants. The band asked U.S.S. COD Submarine Memorial Director Dr. John Fakan for permission to perform a special anniversary tribute aboard the U.S. Navy submarine for the more than 3,000 Americans killed in the 9-11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
"I immediately granted them permission to use Submarine COD for this very special commemoration," said Dr. Fakan. "It is more than just a patriotic gesture for the bagpipe band; it's very personal. They lost 17 of their fellow Union members on 9-11, including their solo vocalist, Mary Yolanda Dowling, who died helping to evacuate her co-workers in the World Trade Center."
Granting permission to use Cleveland's National Historic Landmark submarine for a 9-11 tribute was also personal for Dr. Fakan. His daughter is an active-duty Air Force officer who was working in the Pentagon when the third hijacked aircraft crashed into the Washington landmark. "Thankfully, she survived the attack and helped the injured," said Dr. Fakan.
The "Sword of Light" has played at over 300 events in the last five years and has made more than 1,500 appearances across America and overseas in the 22 years since its founding.
Submarine COD is a World War II fleet submarine that honors the memory of more than 3,900 men who died in the 106-year history of the Navy's Submarine Force. The sub is docked on North Marginal Rd., between East 9th St. and Burke Lakefront Airport. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free for the 9-11 tribute program.
Who doesn't like bag pipes!
You probably shouldn't have asked that...
I'm also trying to get my mind around the idea of playing the pipes aboard a submarine. I'm sure that the band will be standing on deck, but the very idea of playing pipes inside a submarine seems inhuman.
I enjoy the pipes, singly, in bands and in pipe and drum marching bands, but to play inside of a not-so-large steel pipe would be carrying things much to far. I enjoy the pipes, yes, but I also enjoy the jokes about destroying pipes!
There's the one about a frustrated piper leaving his car, unlocked and with the windows down, in a high-crime area, with his pipes in the back seat. When he returns to his car, he finds that not only has his car not been molested, but that there is now a second set of pipes in the back seat.
"The "Sword of Light" has played at over 300 events in the last five years and has made more than 1,500 appearances across America and overseas in the 22 years since its founding."
God Bless em, one and all!
Ummm... neighbors? Though to tell the truth, the big complaint I've had since we moved in (8+ years ago) is that they don't hear the pipes at all. (I haven't been playing...)
In an enclosed space, with hearing protectors, it can be done. Don't know about headroom (folr the bass drone) on a sub though...
People with musical taste?
I'm going to run away and hide now.
Question:
What's the difference between bagpipes and a lawnmower?
Answer:
You can tune the lawnmower.
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