To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, on May 8, thousands of pipers around the world played†Battleís Oíer, a traditional tune performed on the bagpipes at the end of a battle, and†VE Day 75, a tune specially composed for this event†by Roger Bayes of the city of Norwich Pipe Band.†In addition, several pipers in Germany and Poland played at the warís infamous concentration camp sites such as Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenvald, Auschwitz- Birkenua and Treblinka.†††The United Kingdom VE75 organizer, Bruno Peek, said: ìWe are asking pipers to play at suitable locations of their choice, such as outside churches, cathedrals, in market squares and on high streets, in valleys, on town and village greens and onboard ships at sea.†The overall aim is to have 5,000 Pipers taking part throughout the world.†Local members of the Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Highlander Bagpipe and Drum Band also participated in the Victory in Europe 75th anniversary celebration. Pipers Andra†Stoller, Gracie†Stoller, Gary Frasier and Drummer Natalie Smiley braved the cold wind to play outside of JAKs at the Meridian Marketplace.††The Pikes Peak Highlanders were founded in 1985 by Royal Canadian Air Force Major Bob Tracy. The band has enjoyed a long and successful journey as a competition and performance pipe band and has provided the sounds of Great Highland Bagpipes and Scottish drums to the front range for over 30 years.
