On April 13th, 1995 Herloff Ted Hansen III, Hobart Fire Department, a good friend of mine , lost his life in the "line of duty" as I watched the pipes and drums of the Emerald Society from Chicago play during the procession, I could not help but be overwhelmed with the sounds of the pipes and how much honor they brought to this sad and tragic event.
Last spring I was fortunate to come in contact with Brent Van Norman (US Army retired) who has been playing the Great Highland bagpipes for 35 years. Mark Slonaker, Hobart Fire Department and myself met with Brent and his band, the "Ceol Mor" pipe band and discussed the idea of a band devoted soley to paying honor to individuals, i.e. Firefighters, Policemen, Veterans, etc. And so this summer thanks to the pipers and drummers from the Ceol Mor pipe band ...
the "All Region
Regimental Guard" was formed as a
Not for Profit Pipe and Drum band to pay tribute to the men and
women who dedicated their lives to public service, and Veterans
who have served Honorably in the armed forces.
Within three weeks of the Regimental Guard forming , we were requested twice within one week to play at "Line of Duty" deaths. The first on August 19th, The Regimental Guard paid tribute to Jeffrey Evertt Sammons of the South Whitley/Cleveland Township Fire Department. Sadly, less than a week later our services were again required when we paid tribute to Officer Paul Richard Deguch of the South Bend Police Department.
The All Region Regimental Guard was formed as a unit of the Ceol Mor Pipe Band as a not for profit Pipe and Drum band to pay tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to public service, and veterans who have served Honarably in the armed forces.
The members of the "All Region Regimental Guard" wear the Black Watch Tartan Thus representing the black or silent service, that fire and law enforcement agencys provide to our communities. As we are a "Guard" unit our members carry the traditional "dirk" with black sheath, in addition, the Honor guard to the colors carry Basket Hilted swords a tradional weapon of highland units who fought in the Americas and around the world. We wear black jackets to commemorate those public servants who have given the ultimate sacrifice, "dying in the line of duty", either for our country or their communities. The Balmorals with black and white dicing represents law enforcement. The long horse hair sporran, a traditional military sporran pays honor to the veterans who served this great country of ours. The red and white diced hose worn by the 78th Fraiser Highlanders and the 42nd Black Watch, commemorate the fire service, with black flash, which is the guards salute to Ted Hansen III (Hobart Fire Department) whose line of duty death prompted the creation of the All Region Regimental Guard.
Douglas R. Patton