Mass. State Police Win Brockton Pipe and Drum Contest

The BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—A contingent from the Massachusetts State Police Pipe and Drum team were crowned champions in the Brockton Fire Department’s second annual battle of the pipe and drums bands contest.
On Sunday Nov. 14, five bands from the New England were scrutinized by judges from the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association as they marched, pounded drums and played bagpipes at the Shaw’s Center in Brockton.
More than 100 people attended the event.
Brockton Firefighter Peter Reardon said five teams competed this year. During the competition’s inaugural contest last year four bands vied for the honor of best pipe band in New England.
“We’re growing and I can see this as becoming some kind of festival,” Reardon said.
The Mass. State Police unseated the Greater Boston Pipes and Drums, who won the competition in 2009.
Each team raised money for various charities.
Reardon said each team shared in the prize money that was raised from entry fees for the bands and $10 tickets paid by those who attended the competition.
First place winners Mass. State Police received $1,042 which will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides numerous services for severely injured military members.
Second place winners Brockton Fire Department will donate $868 to The Enterprise newspaper’s Helping Hands fund that offers help to various local charities and organizations.
Third place winners Peabody Fire Department will donate $695 to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Former champions, Greater Boston Pipes and Drums placed fourth and will donate $521 to Shriner’s Hospital Burn Fund for Kids.
The New London. Conn. Fire Department—which won the honorary award for the department who traveled the longest distance—placed fifth and will donate $347 to the Bridgeport, Conn. Fallen Firefighers Fund and will help the families of two Bridgeport firefighters who died fighting a blaze in July.
Reardon said he hopes every year the contest will grow and is seeking corporate sponsors to help defray costs and expand the competition.
Reardon said next year’s competition is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2011.
“We hope it will be bigger, better and badder,” Reardon said.
(Entire team photo at top of Mass. State Police Pipe and Drum photo courtesy Mass. State Police Pipe and Drums)