By Monty Siekerman
How did a physics instructor come to play the bagpipes? The Ada Icon caught up with  Todd McAlpine last week when he performed a special song at the beginning of the Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at Ohio Northern.

McAlpine said he first heard someone play the Highland pipes when he was six years old and loved the sound, so he learned to play the bulky instrument. He’s also of Scottish heritage.

McAlpine, who teaches physics part-time, is primarily a stay-at-home dad since his wife, Perrine Trilisa, teaches chemistry at ONU. They are parents of two sons, Callum, 5, and Rory, 3.

McAlpine is a member of Lion Rampant, a bagpipe group composed of mostly Findlay residents. In the past year, the group played at Merry on Main in Ada and at the grand reopening of the Ada Public Library.

For the Veterans Day ceremony last week, McAlpine played “The Battle’s O’er,” which is a Scottish march. The song was played all over the world at 6 a.m. local time on Veterans Day, including in Ada at War Memorial Park. 

ONU Chaplain David MacDonald related, “Todd has agreed to play this song for us today as we silently stand in witness to the lives of those who gave the last full measure of their devotion for the cause of freedom. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”

Photo: Todd McAlpine plays bagpipes at ONU Veterans Day.