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Freedom of the City Project, Camrose
Project Manager: Maj. W. Lockhart
Scheduled completion date: October 14th 2006
Event success factor: To hold a Freedom of the City Parade in Camrose
Project Update, November 14th,2006
The Camrose booster ran an news clip about parade.
Project Update, Oct 14th,2006
The parade was a smashing success with all those in attendance impressed by the event.
The SALH would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of the parade. A gracious regiment thanks the job done by the City of Camrose, The Camrose Legion, The Camrose Police Force and City Maintenance Group and the Cadets of Camrose.
Please take a minute and enjoy the following pictures of the event:
The Regiment Arriving in the City
The Regiment Is Halted At the Barrier
The Regiment Steady and On Guard
The Deputy Mayor Helen Munroe Welcomes The Regiment
The Guidon Is Flown For the First Time In Camrose
The Deputy Mayor Inspects the Regiment
A Good Shot Of The Troops
The Cadet Colour Party
The Army Cadets of Camrose On Parade
The Veterns Join The Parade and Inspected By The Deputy Mayor
The Regiment Marches With Guideon Flying, Bayonets Fixed and Drums Beating
The Historic Halftrack and New LUVW Roll Past to End Parade
Project Update, Oct 3rd,2006
The following was run in the Camrose newspaper to highlight the coming event:
LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT TO BE GRANTED FREEDOM OF THE CITY
By Dan Jensen
The South Alberta Light Horse Regiment, a supporter of the Camrose Army Cadets, will be granted Freedom of the City in a ceremony at City Hall October 14.
A similar ceremony was held in Medicine Hat just last year to celebrate that city's 100th birthday.
"It's a ceremony that is steeped in tradition," said councillor Helen Munroe, who is making preparations for the event and will serve as deputy mayor during that time.
"It follows military protocol to a tee."
The ceremony will get underway at approximately 10:15, after members of the South Alberta Light Horse Regiment, along with Camrose Army Cadets, complete a parade from the Liquidation World parking lot.
"We think there are going to be 50 members of the regiment participating, if not more," said Munroe.
"They are diligently trying to bring equipment with them, including one of the newest tanks they are using in Afghanistan."
The ceremony of granting the Freedom of the City dates back over three centuries when cities had walls and gates barred to friend and foe alike. Regiments that have enjoyed long and mutually beneficial relationships with cities are granted the privilege of marching through the city with drums blaring, guidon flying and bayonets fixed.
"The role of regiments was to stay on the borders of the city, to preserve and protect it," explained Munroe.
"They were not allowed to venture into the city's premises or walk among the general population.
"If they wanted to come into the city the commanding officer would first have to meet with the head of the police and speak to the governing body of the community, the mayor, the deputy mayor."
It is believed the first freedom was presented in London in 1237.
The South Alberta Light Horse Regiment, based in Edmonton and Medicine Hat, is an armoured reconnaissance regiment and part of the Canadian Army Primary Reserve. Soldiers of the SALH train in the reconnaissance role. As reconnaissance soldiers, they are trained to observe and report on their surroundings. They train to operate a variety of vehicles, including the GWagon and MILCOTS. In order to protect themselves they are trained on a variety of personal and crew-served weapons.
The South Alberta Light Horse is one of the last of the "Light Horse" regiments in the Commonwealth. Members are continuously answering the call of duty by serving within NATO, the United Nations and locally, to emergencies within Canada.
"They are reservists but there are about 20 members serving in Afghanistan right now," said Munroe.
Regiment members will be available after the ceremony to meet with the public at the Royal Canadian Legion.
Project Update, Sept. 22, 2006
The CO has confirmed the date and time as: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2006
The following is the Published Agenda for the Event:
Event Start Time
Departs Jefferson 0800 hrs
Arrive Staging Area 0900 hrs
Parade Starts 1000 hrs
Arrive City Hall 10:15 hrs
Parade complete 11:00 hrs
Reception starts 11:30 hrs
Reception complete 12:30 hrs
Depart for Edmonton 13:00 hrs
You can keep upto date on the event via the Camrose website link at: Camrose Calendar Weblink
Historic Nature of the Event
Freedom of the City is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a regiment. Regiments that have enjoyed long and mutually beneficial relationships with the cities they call home are granted the privilege of marching through the city with drums beating, guidon flying, and bayonets fixed.
The ceremony of granting the Freedom of the City dates back over three centuries when cities had walls and gates barred to friend and foe alike. The foe for obvious reasons, to the friend until the city authorities were assured of the troops' best behaviour and the purpose of the presence of the regiment seeking entry.
The Regiment has been granted Freedom of the City of Medicine Hat and it was excercised in 2005 to coincide with our 100th birthday celebrations.
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