July 24, 2015 - Ottawa - Department of National Defence
A contingent of over 200 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members from across Canada completed a demanding journey today by crossing the finish line at the 99th annual International Four Days Marches Nijmegen.
Led by Colonel Kristiana Stevens, the Canadian contingent marched 40 kilometres a day for four consecutive days, while wearing standard combat clothing and carrying a military rucksack weighing at least 10 kilograms. Contingent members who successfully completed the 160-kilometre march were awarded the Four Day Marches Cross.
After receipt of the Four Day Marches Cross, the CAF contingent marched on a five-kilometre victory parade along the Via Gladiola in downtown Nijmegen. All along the way, tens of thousands of spectators greeted the marchers with thunderous applause, tears of joy, and the throwing of gladioli flowers in recognition of their completion of the Marches as well as in commemoration of the brave Canadian soldiers who liberated the Netherlands from Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
For more information about the CAF’s participation in the Nijmegen Marches, please consult the Nijmegen Marches Backgrounder.
For imagery from the Nijmegen Marches, please visit: http://www.forcesimages.ca/default.aspx?aid=5701
For more information on CAF participation in the Nijmegen Marches, please visit: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/od-bdo/di-ri-eng.asp?IntlOpId=192&CdnOpId=232.
To review the highlights of CAF team participation in the 2015 Marches, please visit:
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.htm.
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