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Quincy police, bagpipes make Memorial Day special for nursing home residents

The Patriot Ledger - 5/27/2021

QUINCY -- It was a long time coming, and Erika Troup wanted to make it special.

Troup is the activities director at Alliance Health at Marina Bay Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in North Quincy, and she knew the Memorial Day observance this year called for a good show.

"I was thinking about what we were going to have for the ceremony and how we haven't had anything in a group setting in any way in more than a year because of COVID," Troup said. "We missed out on so much last year because of the pandemic and I want to make each holiday extra special this year."

What she came up with was up close and personal, and also nice and loud.

Five officers from the Quincy Police Department, who are also veterans, stopped by the nursing center Thursday afternoon to mix and mingle with the residents and enjoy refreshments.

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Then, a bagpiper and snare drummer performed just outside the window where some 40 residents and staff were gathered.

One of the Quincy officers, Sgt. Patrick Faherty, sang the Star Spangled Banner and the National Anthem. The other four officers were Cheryl Potter, Charles Waterman, Michael Reilly and Michael O'Brien.

Two members of the Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band, a family inter-generational bagpipe and drum band that practices in Lakeville, performed outside. Pipe Major Diane Wood-Bielski, of Middleboro, played the bagpipes and her son Ian Bielski, 19, was on the drums. Wood-Bielski has been playing the bagpipes for 20 years.

They performed Scottish, Irish and American tunes. Bielski said the band is devoted to fostering the music and culture of the Great Highland bagpipe and drums through performance and competition in southeastern New England and beyond.

The band was founded in 2016 with an experienced family of bagpipers and drummers from Middleboro. Bielski said the band is looking to expand its drum corps and offers lessons in drumming to anyone of any age. Call 508-947-4383 or email oldcolonyhpb@comcast.net.

The Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band will march in the Quincy Flag Day Parade in mid-June and in Hingham on July 4.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy police, bagpipes make Memorial Day special for nursing home residents

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