• In late 2007, Chief George Emery, who was in charge of the honor guard, made a plan to add a pipes and drums band.  Chief Emery was inspired by the rich tradition and history of bagpipes, honoring our firefighters.  Chief Emery recruited two honor guard members to learn to play the bagpipes.  He organized initial lessons with Mike Quintana, a Thornton police officer and bagpiper.  These initial lessons for David Rosier and Perry Otero began in early 2008 and were conducted on duty.  Scheduling on-duty bagpipe lessons became challenging due to the conflicting schedules of police and fire personnel.  Due to scheduling issues, interest in pipes and drums slowed and almost stalled.  
• Perry was always interested in the bagpipes, and attending the FDIC Firefighter Conference in Indianapolis in 2007 was the catalyst for his interest.  The FDIC conference is the largest firefighter conference in the world.  Fire department pipes and drums from departments nationwide come together to open the event and honor our fallen.  
• In August 2008, Perry Otero began taking private weekly bagpipe lessons with Michael Lancaster, a local instructor.  Perry decided that if we were going to have a pipes and drums band, he would have to do it independently.  
• The Thornton Fire Department had a bass drummer, Orville Caraballo, and a snare drummer, Jason Roberts, with previous experience.  With help from TPD, they acquired drums and began practicing.  
• Bagpipes were ordered on February 25, 2009, and on September 1, 2009, the 1st set was delivered from Scotland.  The bagpipes were part of a special edition firefighter series with custom engraving on the bagpipe drones, reading 'Thornton Firefighters, Local 2376' and 'Courage-Honor-Pride' from our honor guard.  
• In November 2009, the Thornton Firefighters Honor Guard Pipes and Drums played their first academy graduation.
• Original Members Pipe Major Perry Otero, Snare Drummer Jason Roberts, Bass drum, Orville Caraballo

• January 2010 first awards ceremony performance, 2010 became a busy year for piping, with funerals and retirements that continue to this day.  
• In 2010, there was renewed interest in the band, and several new members began lessons.  
• September 13, 2010: Four bagpipes came in for our new pipers.  The Thornton Fire Department Honor Guard could not add this many new members, so the decision was made to become the Local 2376 Pipes and Drums.  Hot sauce was sold as a fundraiser to purchase the band’s bagpipes.  A local vendor created the sauce and applied our labels to it.  
• On December 1, 2010, following a vote by the union body, the band officially became Local 2376 Pipes and Drums. The band members would cover all costs, including lessons, uniforms, and instruments.  The union would purchase kilts.  
• Our mission is to honor our members and their families at special events, including promotions, retirements, graduations, and funerals.

Founding nine members
Perry Otero Pipe Major
Jason Roberts Snare drum
Jaime Rodriguez, Bass Drummer
Dave Rosier Piper
Andrew Tomich Piper
Al Peltz Piper
Theo Gonzales Piper
Rick Gaddis, Drum Major
Gary Hobbs Tenor drum
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