The FDNY band that played at funerals for fallen brothers | 60 Minutes Archive
In a Nutshell
The FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, a band of 70 full-time firefighters, played at roughly 300 funerals and memorial services in the months after 9/11, often doing 10-21 services a day and traveling hundreds of miles between churches. Their signature performances of "Amazing Grace" provided emotional support to grieving families while taking a heavy toll on the musicians, who struggled to stay composed when facing widows and children. Over time, the band transitioned from constant mourning back to normal duties, culminating in a joyful performance at member Brian Grogan's daughter's wedding.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
343 New York City firemen died under the rubble of the World Trade Center. A New York City Fire Department tradition is living on, stronger than ever, and more significant than anyone could have imagined. For 40 years, a small band of brothers, full-time firefighters and part-time musicians, have performed at department occasions, the happy and the sad, the weddings, the parades, and every once in a while, the funerals. Since September 11th, every once in a while has become every day, and on some days, every few hours. By the time Thanksgiving dinners are shared, the band will have played at about 300 services.
The snare of drums and the bellowing of bagpipes has been echoing in the canyons and suburbs of New York City ever since September 11th.
The 70 members of the New York City Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums have hung up their firemen's helmets and donned kilts full-time. One member played more in 6 weeks and buried more guys in 6 weeks than in 23 years as a firefighter. Burying them all is not likely. Only a few firemen in these ruins have been identified. For most, this will be their final burial ground. For those who are found, there are funerals. For the rest, memorial services. The band will be there for all of them. The men plan to be playing at churches beyond Christmas.
Jimmy Ginty is a founding member of the Pipes and Drums. Like several others, Ginty is retired from the fire department, but not from the band. He states: "It It's It's something that we have to do and we want to do. Because of the great loss and and the brotherhood in the job."
Sign in to read the full notes
Get access to AI-generated notes, topic timestamps, and more.