Page 45 - FOP June 2019 Magazine

Band Aid
Pipes an rs of the CP shine for fallen officers in Meorial an Copetition
■ BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
Bouncing along a clearing on the National Mall in Washing- ton, D.C., Billy Schield, drum major for the Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department, appeared to be channeling supernatural energy. After letting out an exclamation beginning with “F” and ending with “yes,” Schield quipped, “Pardon my French.” Read between these lines to know what Schield artic- ulated and how pumped up he and his bandmates were about to get.
Why all the emotion and enthusiasm? Well, the CPD was about to compete in the Memorial Band Competition during National Police Week 2019 and, in its 20th anniversary year, these officers prepared to play one of their most momentous sets ever. On this stage by the reflecting pool in front of the U.S. Capitol, band members gathered in a circle, a party formation if you will.
Ironically, the Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police De- partment then began its competition set with a ceremoniously apropos rendition of “La Boum,” or “The Party.” As the melo- dy permeated the air like a tantalizing aroma, an overcast sky suddenly gave way to sunshine. Could it be that the clouds had
actually parted so familiar guests could join the party?
“There’s never been a doubt in my mind that when we play at functions like this, the Chicago Police cloud up there in the sky opens up and our fallen officers are listening,” confirms Tom McKenna, a retired CPD officer and one of the band’s founding members. “They’re looking down on us and maybe having a few
beers and enjoying our music.”
The Pipes and Drums of the CPD played sweetly enough to
place third in the competition for the third consecutive year. The tunes were inspirational enough to scintillatingly regale the four new party guests – Paul Bauer, Samuel Jimenez, Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo – and their families.
“This is our attempt to bring attention to our fallen officers and make sure everybody remembers our guys through our performance,” praises Schield, who has been on for 27 years and has played drums with the band for 19. “We wanted to make sure we put on a good performance so that the families of the fallen know that we’re here for them, and we’re going to put on our best for them.”
In the early 1980s, Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne observed that
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