OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 24, 2013) - The Ceremonial Guard, a unit of the Canadian Armed Forces, performed the final Changing of the Guard ceremony of 2013 on Parliament Hill today at 10 a.m. The parade ended with the final relief of the sentries at the National War Memorial, marking the end to another summer of drill and ceremony in the National Capital Region.
During the season, the Ceremonial Guard amazed thousands of Canadians and tourists with military music and precise ceremonial drill. In addition to the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, each day soldiers performed sentry duties at Rideau Hall and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial.
"I am very proud of the men and women of the Ceremonial Guard, who have represented the Canadian Armed Forces in such a professional and dynamic manner," said Brig.-Gen. Julian Chapman, Deputy Commander, 4th Canadian Division/Joint Task Force Central, the parade's reviewing officer.
The Ceremonial Guard performed at a number of events in the National Capital Region including concerts such as Fortissimo, now in its 17th year. It also provided guards of honour for visiting dignitaries. On July 10, the Ceremonial Guard was honoured to assume the responsibility for manning the Canadian Armed Forces Afghanistan Memorial Vigil in the Parliament of Canada. This duty will now pass to other elements of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The 400 soldiers and musicians of the Ceremonial Guard will now return to their home units across Canada. The responsibility for ceremonial duties at Rideau Hall will now move to the Governor General's Foot Guards until May 2014. The Governor General's Foot Guards is based in Ottawa and is one of three Guard Regiments in Canada.
Note to editor/news director:
For more information, please contact: Captain David Rennie, Adjutant, Ceremonial Guard, at 613-991-2117 or by email at David.Rennie@forces.gc.ca.
For more information on the Ceremonial Guard please visit: www.ceremonialguard.forces.gc.ca or www.facebook.com/changingoftheguard.
Contact Information:
www.forces.gc.ca