Invitation to participate in the inaugural Victory March
March 18, 2021 - Defence Stories
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Victory March is symbolic of our long-lasting relationship with the Netherlands, dating back to the Second World War, where many Canadians gallantly found their final resting place in the cities and towns surrounding the immediate area of Nijmegen.
This year would have been Canada’s 69th year of providing a marching contingent in the annual International Four Days Marches Nijmegen (4DAAGSE). However, as our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Joint Task Force (JTF) Nijmegen members were preparing to participate in the 104th edition of this historic march in the Netherlands, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to its cancellation for the second year in a row.
To ensure the continued spirit of CAF participation in the 4DAAGSE, Military Personnel Command / Chief of Military Personnel (MILPERSCOM/CMP) is formally announcing the creation of the Victory March, as an official CAF-led event. We are personally inviting and encouraging you, with your families, all Defence Team members, Veterans, and Canadians, to participate in this event, in your own community, or to join along with JTF Nijmegen marchers for a two-day march.
Aside from its excellent training value for our professional force, this Victory March is symbolic of our long-lasting relationship with the Netherlands, dating back to the Second World War, where many Canadians gallantly found their final resting place in the cities and towns surrounding the immediate area of Nijmegen.
Regardless of the cold weather, our military women and men across the country are “rucking” up this month as part of their required training, and will be completing a 2 x 20 km weighted (10kg) ruck-march, in their own towns and cities on May 4 and 5.
The Victory March will also be open to all other participants from May 1 to 9, with the opportunity to complete a march of their choice: 2 x 5km, 2 x 10km, 2 x 20km or 2 x 20km with weight.
To the Canadian public—in joining the Victory March, you will be sharing in and encouraging your CAF members as you complete a physical and mental challenge, while commemorating our shared past.
You can register for the Victory March here (You are now leaving the Government of Canada website)!
Boomer’s Legacy
MILPERSCOM/CMP is the personnel management and supporting arm of the CAF. As such, we are actively engaged in medical services at home and on operations, we provide support to our military members and their families, and we care for our ill and injured. For this reason, we invite the public to contribute to and support our chosen charity for this event, Boomer’s Legacy, which is named after Corporal Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom, a dedicated CAF soldier and medic killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Andrew was committed to saving lives and helping the Afghan people realize freedom. Today, the charity named in his honour funds humanitarian initiatives, such as helping local hospitals, providing opportunities for women, and improving health care and education conditions at home and abroad where our forces deploy.
We invite you to pay homage to our shared Canadian history, our continued support to serving military personnel, veterans and their families, and Boomer’s worthwhile cause this May, by registering for the Victory March (You are now leaving the Government of Canada website) now!
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