Morinville's town hall will reopen for one day only in order to welcome the Edmonton Garrison to town.
About 500 people are expected to watch members of the 1 Service Battalion roll into Morinville this Sunday to be granted freedom of the town — one of the highest honours a unit can receive from a community. The event is part of the town's centennial celebrations.
Troops from the battalion will march up to the town's hall Sunday morning, says town special events co-ordinator Peggy Gilchrist, where they will be confronted by a barricade. After the troops knock on the barricade with a sword and ask for permission to enter the town, Mayor Lloyd Bertschi will then grant that permission, open the barricade and let them in. After inspecting the troops, the unit will be granted the key to the town.
The town hall is closed right now due to renovations, Gilchrist says, but they'll be taking down the construction fences for the ceremony. "We're actually stopping construction on the town site for the day." The ceremony will be followed by a parade, a barbecue and a presentation of military vehicles and equipment.
This event will give troops a chance to reconnect with the people they serve, says battalion spokesperson Grant Cree. "Even though they serve their country, they're still members of the community."
Historic event
The freedom of the city concept dates back to ancient Rome, when it was against the law for armies to bring their weapons into town, Cree says. Instead of camping in the country, where they could be attacked, armies would negotiate with towns to gain entrance and camp safely behind their walls.
This is the first time that Morinville has held a freedom of the town event, Bertschi says, and it's fitting that it's being given to the battalion: there are about 400 active soldiers in town, many of which are from that unit. "It was a natural fit."
Staff chose to hold the event on Sept. 11 to coincide with the end of Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan and troop schedules, Gilchrist notes — the fact that it corresponds to the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City was largely coincidental.
Local soldiers are frequent volunteers in community groups, Bertschi says, and helped clear brush during the construction of the town's northern trail. Former councillor Joe Gosselin is a retired soldier, and past councillor Donna Phinney was married to one. Troy Grant, the volunteer who came up with the idea for this event, is also ex-military.
The 1 Service Battalion is a logistics unit, Cree says, responsible for supplying troops with bread and bullets. Many are now in Afghanistan helping to pack equipment and vehicles for shipment home.
This event will create a bond of friendship between the town and the military, Gilchrist says, and a commitment to help each other in times of need. "You become more of a family."
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday at the Civic Plaza and at the Community Cultural Centre in Morinville, where 1 Service Battalion will set up displays and host a barbecue in their mobile kitchen. Call Gilchrist at 780-939-7841 for details.
