The Aad Temple Shrine Pipes and Drum unit was formed in the early 1960's. It was then that a group of Shriners petitioned then Potentate Robert Fraser for a loan of $5,000 dollars for uniforms and gear to form the basis of the Aad Shrine Pipe & Drums. Potentate Fraser was more than happy to oblige, and because of his generosity the new group chose to honor Mr. Fraser by choosing his family tartan as the official tartan of the Aad Shrine Pipes & Drums, which is still worn today.

The Aad Shrine Pipes and Drums remained in existence for 10 years until the early 1970's when membership declined and the unit eventually disbanded.

In late 1981 the then High Priest and Prophet, Roger Emerson, called a meeting to see if the Pipes and Drum Unit could be resurrected? There was an enthusiastic meeting in the "Red Fez Lounge," where members of the old Aad Shrine Pipes & Drum met with interested new Nobles. This meeting ultimately resulted in the rebirth of a new Pipes & Drum unit.

The first meeting took place in the Directors Staff Room, where Roy Hudson was elected the President, Eric Neetenbeek as Secretary, and Robert Paquette as Treasurer. New by-laws were drawn up and things were on a roll. A young Piper named Charles Bouschor was contacted and he agreed to instruct the piping. Fortunately, there were some older highland drummers that could still play. The early pipers consisted of Erland Bjork, Frayden Amundson, Charles Bouschor, David Bouschor, Michael Johnson, Robert Learmont, Peter Meyers, Dan Nixon, Robert Paquette, Ronald W. Peterson, James Sanders, David Sarazin, Douglas Simonsen, Jack Strom, Jeffrey Wallgren, John C. McLaughlin, Wesley Peterson, Angus McLeod, Robert McGregor, Roger Morris and Arnold Lueck.

Among the early drummers were Scott Lyons, John Campbell, Walter Ramsay, Robert Cox, Bill Ellison, and James Neetenbeek, Forrest (Bud) Williams, Martin Hudson, Duane Booker, Michael Booker, Doug Gardner, Dan Grambush, Tim Jayson, Robert Lundberg, Clark Neetenbeek, Richard Nylund, Ron Peterson, Fred Wicklund, John Klee, Jose Alva, and finally Past Potentate Roger Emerson.

The first official parade took place in 1982 at the St. Andrews Dinner Club in Moorehead, MN. Drum Major Roy Hudson referred to the city as "Margo Foorhead," and Charlie and Mac McLaughlin played Highland Dance tunes for Dave Bouschor who danced the Fling and Sword Dance. The first trip outside the United States took place at Old Fort William in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, which was memorable in the fact that the group admitted the music wasn't the best, however the group was dressed in full Scots Guard Regalia, and was applauded loudly for their spectacular look.

Over the years the requests for parades and performance have continued to grow. The first "major parade," was the Hibbing Airshow in the late 1980's that featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The unit has also performed in Toronto, Canada at the Imperial Session in 1989, and participated in the massed bands that featured 800 pipes and 200 drums.

Over the years many of our original members have been lost but new ones gained. The Pipes and Drums have become a showpiece of the Aad Shrine. With the changing of the times and sale of the old Temple Building, the Pipes and Drums found new life at the Trinity Lodge in Lincoln Park, as Charles Berquist, our present Pipe Major, offered the use of the lodge. After 30 plus years of existence the Aad Shrine Pipe & Drums morale and competence remains high, as we look forward to the future, and the next 30 years.