[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE ASSOCIATION PIPES & DRUMS

 Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the New 
Hampshire congressional delegation, Senator Maggie Hassan and 
Representatives Ann McLane Kuster and Chris Pappas, to salute the New 
Hampshire Police Association Pipes and Drums on its 25th anniversary. 
For a quarter century, NHPA Pipes and Drums have brought their distinct 
sound to memorial services and community events in the Granite State 
and across the country. They honor their brothers and sisters in 
uniform with each performance.
  The beginnings of NHPA Pipes and Drums are rooted in tragedy. In 
October of 1994, Sergeant James Noyes of the New Hampshire State Police 
SWAT Team responded to a barricaded subject in Gilford, NH. Trained in 
hostage negotiations, he was trying to dissuade a clearly distraught 
man from harming himself when the man suddenly opened fire. Sergeant 
Noyes was struck by a bullet under his arm and succumbed to his injury, 
leaving behind a wife, daughter, and two sons.
  At his funeral days later, his fellow troopers and law enforcement 
officers listened to the Boston Police Gaelic Column pay tribute to 
Sergeant Noyes. Their bagpipes and drums gave expression to their 
shared grief. A few officers quickly initiated a search for anyone 
interested in a New Hampshire-based police pipes and drum band. Several 
individuals from various departments answered the call, and they held 
their first practice 2 months later. After 2 years of trainings and 
rehearsals, the New Hampshire Police Association Pipes and Drums gave 
its maiden performance at the New Hampshire Police Memorial in Concord.
  The band's current roster has honed a difficult craft, and their 
performances give special meaning to both somber police memorials as 
well as more cheerful community events. They are frequent marchers in 
Forth of July and holiday parades around the region. They are mainstays 
at the New Hampshire Highland Games. They bring their talents to send-
offs for Honor Flights, which flies veterans to Washington, DC, at no 
cost to see war memorials. They have played at Fenway Park, as well as 
in the Nation's Capital during National Police Week, and at our annual 
Congressional Law Enforcement Awards, they play a crucial role in our 
efforts to honor officers who go above and beyond the call of duty.
  On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, we ask our colleagues and 
all Americans to join us in congratulating NHPA Pipes and Drums on 25 
years of service and wishing its pipers and drummers all the best in 
the coming years.

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