HISTORY
Somerset County Police Pipes & Drums
In 1997 two friends, Larry Booker, a Franklin Twp Police Officer, and George Murphy, a retired New York City Police Officer, decided Somerset County was lacking the dignity of having it's own pipe band.
Soon, Larry found himself addressing a meeting of the somerset county Emerald Society. He pitched the idea and requested anyone who was interested to raise their hand. In the end, he walked out with 9 members of the newly formed Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums.
Larry and George recruited two established instructors for the group. Daniel Sprague and Kenny Finn, both New York City Police Officers and members of the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, were a perfect fit. Every week they would travel to the Neshanic Volunteer Firehouse and tutor the fledging band.
In December of 1997, only 8 months after they were formed, the members received their instruments. They vowed to be ready for St. Patrick's Day 1998. Experts advised the band not to get their hopes up, two years was a more realistic time frame.
1998 saw the band debut at the Morristown St.Patrick's Day parade and history was. The band hasn't missed their debut host's event ever since.
Soon, Larry found himself addressing a meeting of the somerset county Emerald Society. He pitched the idea and requested anyone who was interested to raise their hand. In the end, he walked out with 9 members of the newly formed Somerset County Police Pipes and Drums.
Larry and George recruited two established instructors for the group. Daniel Sprague and Kenny Finn, both New York City Police Officers and members of the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, were a perfect fit. Every week they would travel to the Neshanic Volunteer Firehouse and tutor the fledging band.
In December of 1997, only 8 months after they were formed, the members received their instruments. They vowed to be ready for St. Patrick's Day 1998. Experts advised the band not to get their hopes up, two years was a more realistic time frame.
1998 saw the band debut at the Morristown St.Patrick's Day parade and history was. The band hasn't missed their debut host's event ever since.