BG–10.017 - July 14, 2010
From 20-23 July, a Canadian military contingent will participate in the 94th annual International Four Days Marches Nijmegen as they have done every year since 1952.Led by Brigadier-General J.C. Madower, this year's Canadian Forces (CF) contingent is comprised of 189 marchers. Sustained by a robust admin and medical support staff, CF participants in Joint Task Force (JTF) Nijmegen 2010 will also be joined on their journey by the Honourable Peter MacKay - Minister of National Defence, Mr. Laurie Hawn - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Lieutenant-General Christopher J.R. Davis – NATO Military Committee, Rear-Admiral Andrew Smith – Chief Military Personnel, Brigadier-General Dave Kettle - Chaplin General, the Air Command Band, as well as Comrade Allan Callard of the Royal Canadian Legion, for a total strength of 233 participants.
The Nijmegen Marches originated in 1909 with Dutch military efforts to increase the long-distance marching and weight-carrying ability of infantry soldiers. It evolved into an international event drawing over 45,000 civilian and military participants from over 50 nations, as well as over a million spectators. Coincidentally, Nijmegen was also the area from which the Canadian Army conducted its operations throughout the last six months of the Second World War.
Over 7,600 Canadian died in the nine month campaign between 1944-1945 to liberate the Netherlands, a sacrifice never forgotten by the Dutch people. Now, some half a century later, Canadians and the Dutch still remember the historic events of that time and celebrate the lasting bonds that were created between our two countries during the Nijmegen Marches.
During the four days of marching, CF members will walk the same terrain where many Canadians fell. On the way to Nijmegen, the Canadian contingent will visit and hold a memorial ceremony at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. During the marches, Canadian military participants will also pay their respects at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 2,300 Canadian soldiers and airmen who died fighting to liberate the Netherlands in 1944 and 1945.
THE MARCHES
The Nijmegen Marches consists of four days of marching through the countryside and crowded streets of towns and villages in the Nijmegen area. Each military participant marches in total 160 km while wearing standard combat clothing and carrying a military backpack weighing at least 10 kg. The marches are neither competitive nor a speed test, but they do require proper training and a good team spirit to ensure success. It is the team that finishes with spirit and style that wins the plaudits of the crowd.
Physically and mentally strong, the Canadian contingent is representative of the whole of the CF. The Canadian contingent is broken down into teams, with each team consisting of 11 personnel. Teams are made up of both Regular and Reserve Force members of all ranks and occupations from across the country. During the months of training required to be selected for the Canadian contingent, candidates test both their physical and mental stamina by marching an average of 700-1000 km with their backpacks.
The Nijmegen Marches are primarily a team event that develops such core military values as leadership, teamwork, camaraderie and endurance, and each team is expected to complete the marches successfully in good order and with the team intact. Although each individual who successfully completes the marches receives a medal, the coveted award is the team award. The team award is handed to the members of a team who successfully complete the marches with at least 90 per cent of the team intact. The training standards and selection criteria for the Canadian Contingent are such that every team entered should, barring any unforeseen accidents, qualify for a team award.
TEAMS
This year's teams come from:
- Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT), Halifax, N.S.
- 3 Area Support Group (3 ASG), Gagetown, N.B.
- 3 Wing Bagotville, Que.
- Royal 22e Régiment, Valcartier, Que.
- National Capital Region, Ottawa, Ont.
- Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston, Ont.
- Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ont.
- CFB Borden, Ont.
- 16 Wing Borden, Ont.
- 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR), Petawawa, Ont.
- 22 Wing North Bay, Ont.
- North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), Colorado Springs, U.S.A.
- 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG), Edmonton, Alta.
- Calgary Highlanders, Calgary, Alta.
EVENTS
Upcoming Nijmegen events include:
- July 18, 2010 – The Canadian contingent will visit and hold a memorial ceremony at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.
- July 20, 2010 –First day of the Nijmegen Marches.
- July 22 – Half way through this day of marching, the Canadian contingent will pay their respects at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, the final resting place of more than 2,300 Canadian soldiers and airmen who died fighting to liberate the Netherlands in 1944 and 1945.
- July 23 – Last day of the Nijmegen Marches. Canadian teams that complete the Nijmegen Marches successfully will receive the Four Day Marches Cross.
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For more information on CF participation in the Nijmegen Marches, please visit the following link: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/nij-nim/index-eng.asp
For more information on the Nijmegen Marches, please visit the official website of the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen at http://www.4daagse.nl/index.php/en.html
