MEDIA ADVISORY AND PHOTO OP

July 20, 2011

Posted on: 20/07/2011

You are cordially invited to attend the

Canadian Forces Nijmegen Marchers Departure Parade
at the Canadian War Museum

Wednesday, July 13, 2011
11:30 a.m.
Lobby and LeBreton Gallery

Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, Ontario

The annual Nijmegen Marches, which take place in the Netherlands over a four-day period, have included Canadian participants since 1952. This rigorous and prestigious event requires that the military entrants march 160 kilometres (four marches of 40 km each) in combat uniform, carrying a minimum rucksack load of 10 kilograms. The event draws more than 40,000 marchers from 50 nations and is witnessed by more than 1 million spectators along the route. The march includes a stop at a large Canadian military cemetery in Groesbeek, which is the final resting place for more than 2,300 Canadians who fought in the Second World War.

Joint Task Force NIJMEGEN, the Canadian Forces’ representation at the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen, is the largest annual pilgrimage of Canadian soldiers, sailors and air force personnel to a war cemetery outside of Canada.
The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. and run about 40 minutes.

Special attendees include:

Rear Admiral Andrew Smith, Chief of Military Personnel, Canadian Forces;
Brigadier-General John Madower, Canadian Forces Assistant Chief of Military Personnel and JTF Nijmegen Commander;
His Excellency Wim Geerts, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
Mr. Charles Belzile, Immediate Past Dominion Grand President of the Royal Canadian Legion; and
Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (Master of Ceremonies)
40 to 50 members of the Canadian Forces representation will also be in attendance

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
(This information taken from http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/nij-nim/index-eng.asp)
The annual Nijmegen Marches, which take place in the Netherlands over a four-day period, have included Canadian participants since 1952. This rigorous and prestigious event requires that the military entrants march 160 kilometres (four marches of 40 km each) in combat uniform, carrying a minimum rucksack load of 10 kilograms. The event draws more than 40,000 marchers from 50 nations and is witnessed by more than 1 million spectators along the route. The march includes a stop at a large Canadian military cemetery in Groesbeek, which is the final resting place for more than 2,300 Canadians who fought in the Second World War.

The year 2011 marks the 95th time the Marches have been held since they began in 1909. Canadian servicemen and women will once again “ruck-up” and take to the