Get ready for two ceremonial military parades in Chatham and Windsor next weekend to celebrate a new regimental flag for the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has announced a “Freedom of the City” parade on May 14, 2023 with the Regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, attending a special church service at Christ Church in Chatham to retire the old flag before the parade. The retiring flag was issued by her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the regiment in 1994. The old flag will be joining the “retired” colours of the original Kent Regiment at the church.
The flag, also known as “colours”, is embroidered with the regiment's historical battle honours earned by its actions over the past two centuries. The new colours will include four new battle honours, three for the War of 1812 (Maumee, Detroit, and Niagara), and a more recent battle honour in Afghanistan.
For many, new colours are a “once-in-a-lifetime” event because they aren't issued very often.
The new colours will be presented to the regiment at a special parade called "Trooping of the Colours" in Windsor on May 13, 2023 at Riverfront Festival Plaza at 1 p.m.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said it's quite an honour to have the original regimental colours displayed in perpetuity in Chatham.
The regiment will march from Christ Church to the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre after the church service where the Commanding Officer will ask the Mayor to “exercise the Freedom of the City" as it was previously granted to the regiment in 1985. The “Freedom of the City” parade will then wind down King Street with soldiers flying their new “colours" and marching with bayonets fixed. They'll also lay a wreath at the Cenotaph and end their march at the old Armouries, where a reception for the troops, the regimental family, and dignitaries will be held.
The public is invited to watch the “Freedom of the City” parade march past the Civic Centre in Chatham on May 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. and enjoy the ceremonies in front of City Hall.
“It is with great pride and excitement that we welcome Prince Michael of Kent to our community as we celebrate the Regiment's receipt of its new colours,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “This is a momentous occasion for us all, as we recognize and honour the dedication and sacrifice of the men and women who serve our country. We are grateful for the opportunity to show our support and appreciation for our local Regiment and all that they do to protect our freedoms and way of life. Congratulations to the Essex & Kent Scottish Regiment on this well-deserved recognition, and we wish them continued success and safety in their ongoing missions to serve and protect Canada."
