Good day. Frederick R. Benda Jr. writing from Westfield, Mass. I have been playing the bagpipes for just about 27 years now. I see that our official 50th anniversary is this year of 2025, and I wrote a bagpipe tune to commemorate the end of the Vietnam War for all sister and brother Vietnam veterans.
I went to Vietnam Sept. 7, 1970, with the Air Force 823rd Red Horse Combat Engineer Squadron. In 1971 we changed over to the 554th Red Horse CES. After I got out of the service in 1972, I carried on with life for some 20 years. After joining different groups at 50, I decided to learn how to play the bagpipe so that I could honor our fallen veterans at our Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs here in Westfield. I have also played the pipes for veterans at the Massachusetts State Cemetery in Agawam.
I'm the present commander for our American Legion Post 124 for 2024-2025 here in Westfield. I was also nominated and voted in as the Post 124 piper. I'm a life member of the VFW. I was a four-year commander of the Westfield VFW Post 1847 back in the '90s, which is no longer there. I now belong to Southwick VFW Post 872.
I also belong to the Vietnam Veterans Liberty Chapter 219 here in Westfield, and we are planning to commemorate the 50th anniversary on April 5, 2025, at our Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony at Parker Memorial Park. I would like to send a corrected copy of this tune to share with other Vietnam veterans, and just maybe a few of them out there play the bagpipes or know someone who knows how to play. I hope they will enjoy this tune! I’m also sending The American Legion Magazine a certificate from our VVA Chapter 219 for outstanding articles on Vietnam veterans and the Vietnam War. Thank you for your time.

Kind Regards,
Frederick R. Benda Jr.