The Hawk Mountain Highlanders celebrated it 25th anniversary last year. Quite an accomplishment considering the life expectancy of most pipe bands.  We continue a busy schedule with parades and programs throughout of the year. We practice on Wednesday evenings in the Deer Lake Fire Hall, and draw most of our members from Schuylkill and Berks Counties in Pennsylvania.
We are always looking for new bandsmen. If you interested in joining, please feel free to contact any member.

We offer full and free instruction in playing the highland bagpipe and any of the drums the band uses. We also provide uniforms at no cost to the members. The band owns its drums. Bagpipes may be purchased, or we have a few loaner sets.
Contact Wes Loder, Pipe Major via phone (570) 640-2660, or via e-mail: MWL2@psu.edu.

St Patrick's Day parade in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Jim Thorpe, a lovely little town nestled in a mountain valley in Eastern Pennsylvania, holds a huge parade each year on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick's Day. The Hawk Mountain Highlanders, my bagpipe band, has participated for all of the last eight years. This was the warmest and most pleasant day we have yet had.
Front rank includes myself on the right flank, Hutten Moyer, Kyle Roeder Jr., Shawn Woll, Pipe Sergeant. Behind are Sean McCormack, Tyler Walthers, David Weisman, Brain Kahl, Nick McNally, Marina Piccioni. Dave Weidenhammer on bass, Mary Beth Rissinger, Katie Malone and Bryce McNally on tenor and Luke Rissinger on side. Logan Walthers is serving as Drum Major. Tune is the Piobaireachd of Donald Dhu.

First pictures of the band

In addition to other interests, I am a piper. I have played the highland bagpiper for over thirty years. In 1986, I helped start the Hawk Mountain Highlanders, and I am still serving as Pipe Major.
In the first picture, I am marching in Girardville's St. Patrick's Day Parade. With me in the front line are Laura Eastman, my older daughter, carrying the Loder banner, and Jeff Yourshaw, now a med school student, carrying the Penn State banner.

• Laura Eastman at the Girardville Parade in 2006. She has been a piper since she was 14. Behind her is Dave Weidenhammer, our long-time bass drummer.
• The band in the Hamburg Firemen's Parade, September 2007. My wife, Linda, as acting Drum Major, leads us.