Pipes & Drums

Pipes and Drums

The Norwich Township Fire Department Pipes & Drums unit is committed to honoring our heritage, our profession and our community through music. The Norwich Township Fire Department Pipes and Drums unit was formed in April of 2000 with 6 members learning to play the bagpipes, 3 snare drums, a bass and a tenor drum.  After many months of practicing and traveling to different locations to meet with the instructors of the different disciplines, the band began to take shape.

In June of 2001, a Scottish woman named Ada Langley handmade our kilts in the Cunningham Tartan pattern.  Our initial uniform at this time consisted of the Kilt, white long sleeved shirt and black tie.  We wore White hose with a red flash and ghillies.  A bar sporran or a military sporran completed our uniform depending on the occasion.  In January of 2007, thanks to the Norwich Township Trustees, we were able to add a dress tunic to our uniform for formal occasions.

The Norwich Township Fire Department Pipes & Drums unit has performed at many functions.  Many of these were our own department functions and ceremonies but we have performed in many that honor our heritage. To date we have performed in 26 parades, 34 funerals, and 161 miscellaneous events.

This Norwich Township Fire Department Pipe & Drum unit would not exist without the support of following:
Norwich Township Trustees
Norwich Township Fire Department
George Fulcher, Pipe Instructor, Columbus Fire Dept.
John Maffett, Pipe Instructor, thepipershut.com
John Cross, Drum Instructor, Shamrock Club, Columbus, Ohio

We currently consist of 4 Pipers, 2 snare drummers, 1 tenor and 1 bass drummer.  We often combine with other local fire departments as well as the Columbus Shamrock Club to form a Pipe and Drum unit that is 30+ strong.

Members of the Norwich Township Fire Department Pipes & Drums unit are Mike Reiterman, Pipe Major, Mike Bidlack, Pipe, Lt. Aaron Johnston, Pipe, Shawn Merz, Pipe, Steve Campbell, Snare Drum, Lt. Greg Young, Snare Drum, Capt. Bill Midgley, Tenor Drum and George Sorge, Bass Drum.

For information about requesting a performance of the Norwich Township Fire Department Pipes & Drums unit, please contact Mike Reiterman at mike_reiterman@norwichtownship.org.

Links to other various Pipes & Drums sites:
Boston FD - http://bgfb.org
Chelsea Fire Department - http://www.cfdpipeanddrum.com
Cleveland FD - http://www.clevelandfirepipers.com
Connecticut FF - http://www.members.aol.com/ctffpandd/pipesite
District of Columbia - http://www.dcfdpipesanddrums.org/links.htm
Emerald Society (New Haven Co.) - http://theemeraldsociety.com
Indianapolis FD - http://indypipes.org
Manchester - http://www.gmcfspb.btinternet.co.uk
New Hampshire - http://nhfirepipers.org
New Haven Hose Co. - http://www.nhhcpb.com
New York City - http://www.fdnypipesanddrums.com
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue - http://www.tvfrpipesndrums.org