Our Band was started in 1980 during the
construction of Shoreham Power House. The slogan I made up was on a sheet of
8X10 computer paper. It read " We need A few good men". Above this
slogan was a picture of Uncle Sam pointing his finger with a stern look on his
face. He wore his Yankee Doodle uniform and top hat. I pasted this sheet all
over the power house. From that we started with 9 beginners on the chanter
they were Joe Saunders, Bob Dow,Tom Buck (the Dr.), Walter Finger Jr, Greg
Walsh, Joe Shanahan, Mike Mc Loughlen,John Loughney and the white whale Arti
Matola. The drum section was Bob Nelson, he was the instructor,and Bruce Colmy
I cant remember the rest.
Brothers this is how our dream became a reality
Ed McGilly, Founder.
Brothers this is how our dream became a reality
Ed McGilly, Founder.
"History of the I.B.E.W. Local # 25 Pipes
and Drums"
The local IBEW Local 25 Pipes and drums were first started April, 1980 on the swing shift at Shoreham Power Plant by Brother Ed McGilly. He was taught by the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band. After playing in the band for 6 years he was laid off and traveled to Palm Beach Florida to work out of that IBEW local. While there he performed with the Fort. Lauderdale Pipes and Drums. Upon his return to Long Island he resumed playing with the police pipe band. Having this opportunity let him see the visual exposure the police department was conveying to the community which is, “Cops aren't that bad after all”. The parades season throughout Suffolk County was a bastion of good will. Sometimes the yelling, screaming and chanting for the Police was just as loud as the band. What a way to spread public relations.
He started to get the ball rolling and had a meeting with Business Manager Budd Fisher by explaining his experience playing with the police band. Buddy's response was, “get the members to join, teach them how to play and after this is completed go before the membership and audition for their approval. If it's approved we will have a band”. That was how our Local Union 25 band was born.
The conditions were just right to accomplish such a challenge. Shoreham Power Station was at its peak of man power. The number of Local 25 brother's on that evening shift was close to 200. It would be a long time before such an army of brother's would be on a large project such as this. Posters were put up on the job asking for brothers to join. The caption on the poster was a drawing of Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the reader saying “I need a few good men to practice”. The recruiting was a success. The first practice consisted of 10 potential pipers and 3 drummers. They were in alphabetical order, Artie Matola, Bob Dow, Bob Nelson, Ed Duffy( if any one remembers he was the son of Jim Duffy), Ed McGilly, Greg Walsh, Joe Shanahan, Joe Saunders, John Loughtney, Mike McLaughlin, Steve Doherty, Tom Buck and Walter Finger.
Learning the pipes is one of the most difficult musical instruments to learn. A student first learns his music scale on a Chanter. It is very much like a recorder. This Chanter will be used to learn and memories new tunes till the day he decides to retire his pipes. After some of the requirements are completed he will move onto the bagpipes. This is a difficult transition because he has to learn the awkward mechanics of the pipes. Memorizes his music, play the proper fingering of the notes while keeping the three drones at the same pitch, March in formation and everyone has to start and stop their instrument and marching exactly at the same time.
The brother's mentioned above are charter members of the first band to be recognized by the I.B.E.W. International. For this to happen, President Parrington had to request a charter from the international for the IBEW Local No. 25 Pipes and Drums to be formed. This also allowed the band to have the union symbol used as our committees’ name. It also gave us permission to place the symbol on our uniforms, bass drum and banner. This written charter was kept in the union hall as the band was a committee of the local and not an independent club. Like any other committee the band is under the control of the president. Thanks to President Parrington persistence. Without the charter the band, as it is known today, would never have existed. This allowed the band to use the old union hall on Wolf Hill Rd. in Melville. Practice was on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon.
The honor guard was formed to display the flags and banners. The first brother to be the committee chairman was Rudy Hedlund. The honor guard consisted of riflemen in Celtic kilts cross belts and sabers. They flanked the honor guard also dressed in Celtic ware. The American, IBEW # 25 and Irish flags were the norm at each parade. Depending on the occasion other flags were also flown. The banner was 18 feet long by 3 feet high held up with one inch plastic venal pipe. It was manned with 4 to 6 brothers. They also had a standard dress code, a Tamishanter (the Gaelic name for hat) or a baseball cap with the local logo on it, blue or green tie, white shirt, black pants, a green hip length jacket with a large IBEW Local 25 logo on the back and black shoes.
The pipers and drummers dress in a traditional Scottish Military uniform with the feather bonnet. The choice of plaids was a difficult decision. Unbeknownst to the founder, Ed McGilly the Cameron Highlanders Scotland Army Regimental plaid was decided in honor of his Grandfather. He fought in trenches of France wearing his kilt, not pants, during the Great War World War One This was quite an honor filled with great emotional gratitude.
The band and honor guard would like to thank our fellow brothers for the many years you have railed behind us. This committee was formed to create pride in our union and pride in our self as union workers and to show our community of Long Island this pride through organized music. This goal has been achieved not just by the tenacity of this committee to succeed but also by your support.
A number of brothers have participated through these many years. Some of our brothers have departed to a better place. They will never be forgotten. They are part of this dream that come true. To mention them is an honor others. Charlie Hubschmitt, Terry Malanaphy, Frank Flanagan Sr, Artie Matola and Steve Dougherty. If I have missed any of the brothers that have sacrificed and donated their time and have gone to a better place please forgive this oversight.
Our band has paraded in towns and hamlets through this Island and other places far from home all for the purpose of showing people how proud we are of Local # 25 of the I.B.E.W.
Last but not least are the members of the band and honor guard that have continued this proud tradition are to be commended for their tenacity
The local IBEW Local 25 Pipes and drums were first started April, 1980 on the swing shift at Shoreham Power Plant by Brother Ed McGilly. He was taught by the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band. After playing in the band for 6 years he was laid off and traveled to Palm Beach Florida to work out of that IBEW local. While there he performed with the Fort. Lauderdale Pipes and Drums. Upon his return to Long Island he resumed playing with the police pipe band. Having this opportunity let him see the visual exposure the police department was conveying to the community which is, “Cops aren't that bad after all”. The parades season throughout Suffolk County was a bastion of good will. Sometimes the yelling, screaming and chanting for the Police was just as loud as the band. What a way to spread public relations.
He started to get the ball rolling and had a meeting with Business Manager Budd Fisher by explaining his experience playing with the police band. Buddy's response was, “get the members to join, teach them how to play and after this is completed go before the membership and audition for their approval. If it's approved we will have a band”. That was how our Local Union 25 band was born.
The conditions were just right to accomplish such a challenge. Shoreham Power Station was at its peak of man power. The number of Local 25 brother's on that evening shift was close to 200. It would be a long time before such an army of brother's would be on a large project such as this. Posters were put up on the job asking for brothers to join. The caption on the poster was a drawing of Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the reader saying “I need a few good men to practice”. The recruiting was a success. The first practice consisted of 10 potential pipers and 3 drummers. They were in alphabetical order, Artie Matola, Bob Dow, Bob Nelson, Ed Duffy( if any one remembers he was the son of Jim Duffy), Ed McGilly, Greg Walsh, Joe Shanahan, Joe Saunders, John Loughtney, Mike McLaughlin, Steve Doherty, Tom Buck and Walter Finger.
Learning the pipes is one of the most difficult musical instruments to learn. A student first learns his music scale on a Chanter. It is very much like a recorder. This Chanter will be used to learn and memories new tunes till the day he decides to retire his pipes. After some of the requirements are completed he will move onto the bagpipes. This is a difficult transition because he has to learn the awkward mechanics of the pipes. Memorizes his music, play the proper fingering of the notes while keeping the three drones at the same pitch, March in formation and everyone has to start and stop their instrument and marching exactly at the same time.
The brother's mentioned above are charter members of the first band to be recognized by the I.B.E.W. International. For this to happen, President Parrington had to request a charter from the international for the IBEW Local No. 25 Pipes and Drums to be formed. This also allowed the band to have the union symbol used as our committees’ name. It also gave us permission to place the symbol on our uniforms, bass drum and banner. This written charter was kept in the union hall as the band was a committee of the local and not an independent club. Like any other committee the band is under the control of the president. Thanks to President Parrington persistence. Without the charter the band, as it is known today, would never have existed. This allowed the band to use the old union hall on Wolf Hill Rd. in Melville. Practice was on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon.
The honor guard was formed to display the flags and banners. The first brother to be the committee chairman was Rudy Hedlund. The honor guard consisted of riflemen in Celtic kilts cross belts and sabers. They flanked the honor guard also dressed in Celtic ware. The American, IBEW # 25 and Irish flags were the norm at each parade. Depending on the occasion other flags were also flown. The banner was 18 feet long by 3 feet high held up with one inch plastic venal pipe. It was manned with 4 to 6 brothers. They also had a standard dress code, a Tamishanter (the Gaelic name for hat) or a baseball cap with the local logo on it, blue or green tie, white shirt, black pants, a green hip length jacket with a large IBEW Local 25 logo on the back and black shoes.
The pipers and drummers dress in a traditional Scottish Military uniform with the feather bonnet. The choice of plaids was a difficult decision. Unbeknownst to the founder, Ed McGilly the Cameron Highlanders Scotland Army Regimental plaid was decided in honor of his Grandfather. He fought in trenches of France wearing his kilt, not pants, during the Great War World War One This was quite an honor filled with great emotional gratitude.
The band and honor guard would like to thank our fellow brothers for the many years you have railed behind us. This committee was formed to create pride in our union and pride in our self as union workers and to show our community of Long Island this pride through organized music. This goal has been achieved not just by the tenacity of this committee to succeed but also by your support.
A number of brothers have participated through these many years. Some of our brothers have departed to a better place. They will never be forgotten. They are part of this dream that come true. To mention them is an honor others. Charlie Hubschmitt, Terry Malanaphy, Frank Flanagan Sr, Artie Matola and Steve Dougherty. If I have missed any of the brothers that have sacrificed and donated their time and have gone to a better place please forgive this oversight.
Our band has paraded in towns and hamlets through this Island and other places far from home all for the purpose of showing people how proud we are of Local # 25 of the I.B.E.W.
Last but not least are the members of the band and honor guard that have continued this proud tradition are to be commended for their tenacity
