YORK, Maine — The FOOLs came to town in an atmosphere of good will and brotherhood Thursday, as an estimated dozen bagpipers wearing kilts and fire

The Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Convention Pipes and Drums play during the opening ceremonies of the FOOLs convention Thursday at Ellis Park in York, Maine. Photo by: Scott Yates/syates@seacoastonline.com

helmets marched across Ocean Avenue to open the annual convention. The opening ceremony was held in Ellis Park, on the grass next to the beach and ocean. The waning sun shone clear and the surf pounded as a moment of silence was held to honor fallen firefighters. The New England FOOLs Bagpipers then played "Amazing Grace."

"We're a family together," said P.J. Johnson, captain with the Kittery Fire Department.

This is the first year the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads has convened in  York. The organization is so named because firefighting helmets used to be leather, said York Beach Fire Captain David Osgood, the local FOOLs representative.

An estimated 90 firefighters arrived in York on Wednesday and will stay the weekend for training, fun events, and mostly, for the brotherhood, said those interviewed. Some came from as far away as Alaska, Washington State and Florida.

Children watch from the sidewalk as the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads (FOOLs) Convention Pipes and Drums parade by during the opening ceremonies of the FOOLs convention at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine, on Thursday, June 25, 2009. Photo by: Scott Yates/syates@seacoastonline.com

"Some of you traveled from where the ocean is on your left, others where the ocean is warm, some where the ocean freezes," said Rusty Ricker, president of the New England FOOLs.

After the half hour ceremony, the bagpipers and firefighters marched down Ocean Avenue and Railroad Avenue to the York Beach Fire Station.

Manchester, NH Fire Fighter Bob Welch leads the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads (FOOLs) Convention Pipes and Drums group during the opening ceremonies of the FOOLs convention at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine, on Thursday, June 25, 2009 Photo by: Scott Yates/syates@seacoastonline.com

FOOLs was formed in 1995 in Florida, said Osgood. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, only strengthened the organization's goal of brotherhood.

Mike Lingrey is division chief for the Everett Fire Department in Everett, Wash., located about 30 miles north of Seattle.

He joined the FOOLs seven years ago, he said, "for the brotherhood and tradition, keeping it alive. Nine-eleven brought back the tradition, that's what brought the FOOLs to us. A lot of us became aware of it; it stepped up the attention."

Alaskan firefighters Ben Fleagle, Brent Kaiser and Ben Simonds won recognition for traveling the farthest to get to the FOOLs convention.

They arrived, from three different departments, wearing "Great Fools of Fire" T-shirts.

Nashua, NH Fire Fighter Cory Farrar plays the bagpipe during the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads (FOOLs) convention opening ceremonies at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine, on Thursday, June 25, 2009 Photo by: Scott Yates/syates@seacoastonline.com

"Once you go to a FOOLs convention," said Capt. Fleagle, of Fairbanks, Alaska, "you can't not go. It's all the things firefighters do. It's a premier event, not because we do anything amazingly technical, but because of the brotherhood."

Over the four to five days they're in town, members will hold training sessions.

During the day on Thursday, the FOOLs went to the Portland Fire Museum and talked to "old timers," said Fleagle, about the history and heritage of the profession.

Bob Faas, a firefighter for the Montgomery County Fire Rescue in Maryland, was working during the time of the sniper shootings, in which people were killed or shot at while they were pumping gas or going about their business.

Faas wasn't in the ambulance, he said, but, "the calls came close to the station. The whole county came to a standstill. I got into the FOOLs that year. I'm now the president of Central Maryland (division). It's brotherhood and a tradition."

Those who come to the FOOLs annual convention fund the trip themselves.

A fire fighter keeps a somber mood during the opening ceremonies of the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads (FOOLs) convention at Short Sands Beach in York, Maine, on Thursday, June 25, 2009. Photo by: Scott Yates/syates@seacoastonline.com

Faas and his wife consider their trip to York their summer vacation, he said.

The Kittery department did much to help support the weekend in York, said Osgood.

Kittery Lt. Kurt Denholm said he liked everything about the organization, especially that it is non-political.

It's firefighters being firefighters, agreed P.J. Johnson, with, "no town councils, no city hall, no one coming after the budget."

"We're all here for the same thing," said Osgood, "keeping our brothers alive."