Scottish Rites

donated by Bud Caudle

The pipers played at the bequest or orders of the Clan  Chief, so when the clan went to war the piper went with them, usually at the  front. When the clans became regiments the pipers went to war with the  chiefs, who became the commanding officers. When the chief was killed or died, as in natural causes the piper would go on a hill and play a lament, a  (phonetic) = Pea Broch (ch as in loch) Through time tunes were written to  mark special events such as battles, deaths or lives of important people etc.

The use of the piper in America came from the Scottish forces used in service  of America, and her enemy and often ally Britain which used Scottish regiments in America. Most often a piper at a funeral in America will play  Amazing Grace I suppose because it is a very old song. In a Scottish regiment  the most often used song for a funeral is "The Flowers of The Forest" which  has lovely words to it.

At  SPC Sgt Nathan Chapman's funeral at Fort Lewis and pipers were part of the Green Beret ceremony. It  was a very somber and moving ceremony, ending with the Ballad of the Green Beret. Another young man from Washington State killed in this war against terrorism. Marine Sgt. Nathan Hays of Wilbur was killed a few days ago when  his plane hit a mountain side.

Sgt. Hays has an obvious Scottish connection by virtue of his name. The  general format for the piper is to lead the casket to the grave site, stand  down while the prayers and eulogies are made, stand with the coffin to his  right, facing west, or the family, which is usually facing east, Amazing Grace or what ever song is chosen is played, (slow march to the burial site,)  after the coffin is lowered, (or at the end of the funeral/graveside service,  the piper then plays a slow march just long enough for the party to slow march  from the grave side and once they are in line and able to march properly, the regimental march, which in this case would be the Marine Hymn to march the  bearers out and regiment out at "quick time."

(Note: In America the bugler often plays retreat, (Last Post) so that will be  when the bearer and honour party leaves the coffin side.) At smaller  ceremonies the bearers are often the same people who fire the 3 gun salute so  they are already away with just the senior officer left at the coffin.

I am sure this funeral will have a full contingent. If I or the station can be of any service at all, with music or anything please do not hesitate to call, no Marine journeys this road alone, he/she  takes a little of us all with them even us old ones. He is not dead, he is  simply changing duty stations. "Heaven's streets are guarded by United States  Marines"