East Coast Canada & USA
25th Anniversary of
September 11, 2011
East Coast Tour 2026
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, members of the EPS Pipes and Drums travelled to New York City to join police and first responders from around the world honouring those who were lost. Invited by the NYPD Pipes and Drums, the band participated in commemorative events at Ground Zero where the Twin Towers once stood, representing both the Edmonton Police Service and Canada during a significant moment of remembrance. Our memorial tour began in Halifax before continuing to Boston and ultimately New York City, with honouring key locations in the events that unfolded on that tragic day. Standing together with our brothers and sisters in New York was a powerful reminder that distance and borders do not diminish the bonds of service or the promise to never forget.
This video was captured along Fifth Avenue near St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on September 11, 2026, as the city marked the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Thirteen pipe and drum bands, led by the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums and joined by bands from across North America, came together to honour those who lost their lives and pay tribute to the first responders who answered the call that day.
For many of these bands, this gathering carried a deeply personal connection. They were among the same bands that played at the funerals in 2001, as New York mourned the loss of 343 FDNY members, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority Police officers. On this anniversary, the FDNY Pipes and Drums had a special responsibility, performing at a private memorial at Ground Zero for the families of those lost. (EPS Pipes and Drums are at the 3:20 minute mark in the video),
Following the memorial service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, the massed pipe and drum bands marched together to Connolly’s Pub on East 47th Street to share food, refreshments, and fellowship with our American and Canadian brothers and sisters.
The parade brought together approximately 120 pipers and 70 drummers, representing police and fire services from across North America. Among those participating were members of the NYPD, New York State Troopers, Suffolk County Police, Port Authority Police, New Jersey State Police, Cleveland Police, Boston Police, Columbus Fire, and the Edmonton Police Service, just to name a few.
 The Halifax Citadel is a National Historic Site built by the British between 1794 and 1800 |  Halifax Citadel |  Halifax Citadel |
|---|---|---|
 Halifax Citadel overlooking Halifax Harbour |  Halifax Citadel enjoying a tasting at the onsite distillery |  Drummers warming up by the Historic Properties in Halifax |
 Performing at the Halifax Fringe Festival |  Labor Day parade in Boston |  Band Stand in Boston Common |
 Band Stand in Boston Common |  Band Stand in Boston Common |  Band Stand in Boston Common |
 Long Wharf Plaza at the Boston Waterfront |  USS Constitution in Boston Harbor |  USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate built in 1797 |
 Playing on the deck of the USS Constitution |  No trip to Boston is complete without a stop at Cheers Bar |  Cheers bar in Boston |
 Battery Park in NYC with the Statue of Liberty in the background |  NYPD generously supplied us with a bus and driver during our time in New York City |  Ground Zero in New York City is the 14.6‑acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan where the Twin Towers stood |
 |  Inside the 9/11 Memorial Museum |  Performing on September 11 at the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden in downtown Manhattan |
 Performing on September 11 at the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden in downtown Manhattan |  Canadian and Commonwealth representatives at the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden in downtown Manhattan |  NYPD cruiser escorting EPS Pipes and Drums along with Toronto PS and other Ontario police agencies through Manhattan on September 11 |
 Memorial service to honor the memory of first responders at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on September 11, 2026 |