Page 41 - June 2017 Newsletter

proud of my mates here. You’re amongst peers and you know they are looking at you, but at the same time they are cheering you along. You feel the arteries in your neck busting through your collar, and it’s all worth it because it’s for a great cause.”
The only band to have more presence in Chicago than the Chicago Police Pipes & Drums might be Chicago. Their primary function is to play at funerals of fallen offi- cers and memorial services, but chances are most mem- bers have seen them somewhere the past year and felt them liven up the room.
The band has taken on the role of spreading its magic as far and wide as possible, including Police Week. Its high notes seem to bring a feeling that the job is great, that po- lice officers are doing something special and fighting the good fight.
“It’s great to see this side of the Department, the honoring, upbeat side,” Tuttle added. “We need more morale-boosting influence, and not just in Chicago. When you are here and you see your fellow officers from around the country with their shields and stars out, it makes you proud to be a police officer. I always tell everybody you have to go to Police Week at least once in your career, es- pecially when you’re down.”
Any officer questioning the value of making the trip only needs to consider that the Chicago Police pipers and drummers pay their own way to come to Police Week, in- cluding travel, hotel and food. They also buy their own
equipment and attire, which drummer Bill Schield noted should be of particular inspiration because part of that attire is a kilt.
But Schield also asserted that he would go to any ends necessary to be playing during Police Week, which brings him the same feeling as when he played with nearly 20 bands from around the country in the memorable Pipes & Drums parade in New York City right after 9/11. The trip to D.C. in 2017 had a particular reason to celebrate.
“The grateful thing is, we’re not playing because we lost somebody, because we haven’t lost anybody in six years now in the line of duty,” Schield added. “That’s some well- ness for us. That’s absolutely enormous and that’s one of the highlights of being in the band and being here.” d
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