Leatherneck Pipes & Drums

The Leatherneck Pipes & Drums is a United States Marine Corps private military pipe band that supports important military cermeonies in the USMC. Being a private unit, it is composed of mostly former USMC personnel. It was formed in 1991 from veterans of the USMC who lived in parts of the Northeastern United States. It was based on the original USMC pipe band based in Derry, Northern Ireland during the Second World War. The official tartan of the unit is the Leatherneck Tartan which is only used by the pipes and drums due to the fact that the USMC has never formally adopted a military tartan.

Activities


The musical unit takes part in activities that involve the following:


 * Retirement Ceremonies
 * Marine Corps Birthday Ball
 * Funerals
 * Change of Command
 * Civil/Military Parades

During any of these ceremonies, the band performs special arrangements of the Star Spangled Banner and The Marines' Hymn. When at an official ceremony, all members of the unit wear a modified Blue Dress "A" uniform which is augmented with a Glengarry cap and a kilt that is patterned in the leatherneck tartan. Keeping in highland/Scottish tradition, the drum major wears feather bonnet instead of a Glengarry. The band also maintains a four-member color guard which is used when the band is on parade.

Associated pipe bands

 * United States Coast Guard Pipe Band
 * United States Air Force Pipe Band (deactivated since 1970)
 * The Regimental Band and Pipes
 * United States Naval Academy Pipes and Drums