Media are invited to attend the Soldier On Afghanistan Relay arrival ceremony after team members ran, walked, and wheeled their way to Ottawa from Trenton, Ontario.
The ceremony will involve participation by City of Ottawa Mayor, Jim Watson, and Director General of Military Careers, Brigadier-General Derek Joyce.
When: Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 2 p.m.
Where: Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West
What: Soldier On Afghanistan Relay – Ottawa public ceremony
The Relay will be travelling the following route and is expected to pass the following destinations at these approximate timings:
10 a.m. – Depart Georges Vanier Catholic Elementary School (40 Varley Drive)
11 a.m. – Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, at Carling Avenue
12:15 p.m. –Canadian War Museum, via Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway
12:20 p.m. – Arrival at Gatineau City Hall (25 rue Laurier, Gatineau, Quebec)
1:25 p.m. – Major’s Hill Park, via Mackenzie Avenue
1:30 p.m. –Pretoria Bridge, via Colonel By Drive
2 p.m. – Arrival at Ottawa City Hall (110 Laurier Avenue West)
- The Soldier On Afghanistan Relay team stopped for public ceremonies as they journeyed 290 kilometres through Belleville, Tyendinaga, Napanee, Kingston, Perth, Kanata and Gatineau. The Relay serves as a way for Soldier On to thank Canadians for their incredible support, to honour the sacrifices of a Nation, and to raise awareness of the programs available to ill and injured members.
- The relay team of 19 Canadians (current and former military members, RCMP, civilian), who suffered an illness or injury while serving during Canada’s contribution to the Afghanistan mission, began the relay on May 4, 2014, as part of the lead up to the National Day of Honour on Friday.
- Soldier On Afghanistan Relay members are taking turns carrying a baton holding the last Canadian flag to have flown at the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.
- On May 9, 2014, the flag will arrive on Parliament Hill for the National Day of Honour ceremony and will be presented to the Prime Minister, who will accept the flag on behalf of all Canadians.
src:news.gc.ca