And That Will Be Enough

One day, every one of us will reach a moment where our bodies no longer match the energy of our younger selves. The fast march, the sharp strike, the endless hours on parade and in competition—these will give way to slower steps, softer voices, and quieter days.

And in those moments, someone will look at you and ask: What did you do when you were young? What did you give your strength and your best years to?

Our answer will be simple: We played in a pipe band.

We played for our fallen and for the living. We played for families, for communities, and for strangers who needed music to carry them through grief or celebration. We played in the heat, the rain, the cold, and the stillness of night. We gave our youth, our discipline, our prime years, to something bigger than ourselves.

When the book of our lives is written and the pages turn to the chapter of our band years, the record will show not perfection, but purpose. Not always victory, but always service. Not always glory, but for doing the right things for the right reasons.

And in the end, when someone asks us what we did in our prime, we will smile and answer with pride: We played in a pipe band. And that will be enough.

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With gratitude, we thank FDNY Lt. Pete Critsimilios (RET) for the inspiration behind these words—a reminder of what it means to give your best years to something that lasts beyond yourself.