COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d’Alene firefighter Erik Loney thought only of his fallen brothers as he looked out over the sea of bagpipers that practiced in unison Wednesday evening on the field next to Fire Station 2. 

“I know both John and Frank wouldn’t believe it,” Loney said.  

Massed bands from around the country, led by the Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums, will play at private celebrations of life for battalion chiefs John Morrison and Frank Harwood.  

Morrison of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department will be honored today at 11 a.m., and Harwood of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue’s celebration is slated for Friday at the same time.  

Over 150 bagpipers and drummers from around the country came together under the direction of Pipe Major Jessica Bryant.   

“These services are exactly why we formed,” Bryant said, “though we hoped it would never be for anybody in our department.” 

While Bryant initially reached out to regional bands, support from as far away as the East Coast quickly poured in.  

“This is what we can do together,” she added.  

Bagpipes have been played as a tribute to fallen firefighters and first responders since the 1800s, a tradition began by Scottish and Irish immigrants who often performed dangerous jobs.  

Honoring their brothers and sisters in this way continues to bring pipe and drum bands together in solidarity — no matter when or where.   

“We’re here to support our guys,” said Scott Casebolt, who traveled from the Puget Sound area with the Puget Sound Firefighters Pipes and Drums.  

Loney added that the firefighting community is still processing the loss of Morrison and Harwood.  

“Both departments lost two big personalities and true leaders,” Loney said. “They’re leaving behind huge holes.” 

    Bagpipers rehearse outside Fire Station 2 Wednesday night in Coeur d'Alene.
  

    A pipes and drums band member helps a bagpiper tune his instrument.
  

    Drummers rehearse outside Fire Station 2 in Coeur d'Alene.