‘Do not take this honour lightly’
Freedom of the Town ceremony held by 84th Independent Field Battery
Footsteps marching on asphalt, the beating of drums and the echo of music sounded the arrival of the 84th Independent Field Battery unit to a special Freedom of the Town ceremony at the town hall in Yarmouth on Sept. 29.
Members of the army reserve unit, the 36 Canadian Brigade Group Band and cadets marched to the town hall where Major Murray Roesler requested, and received, permission for Freedom of the Town from Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood.
Mayor Mood then made it official by reading the day’s proclamation.
“The greatest honour the Town of Yarmouth can bestow upon a military unit is to grant it Freedom of the own. This is a most prized honour for it recognizes and demonstrates the esteem in which the unit is held by the community,” she said. “Upon receiving the Freedom of the Town this unit is granted the right to parade within the town with their drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed.”
The 84th Independent Field Battery Royal Canadian Artillery is a Canadian Army Reserve Artillery Battery under command of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 36 Brigade Group and 5th Canadian Division.
“Since before Confederation, an artillery battery has served Yarmouth, sending soldiers overseas during both World Wars and on numerous UN peacekeeping and NATO missions since the end of the Second World War,” the proclamation read. “The Town of Yarmouth wishes to pay tribute to the members of 84th Independent Field Battery Royal Canadian Artillery who have served the Battery and especially those that have laid down their lives.”
In his remarks, Major Roesler spoke about the 84th’s place in Yarmouth.
“We are part of the community of Yarmouth and the local area. We, the citizen soldiers, are pleased to serve our community, the province of Nova Scotia and Canada,” he said. “The profession of the military is no easy task. The role of the Canadian Army reserves is extremely important in our nation’s security and promoting our national interests abroad.”
Major Roesler said it is also no small feat that citizen soldiers have full-time jobs or schooling commitments yet are able to dedicate their time to the battery.
“It is preciously for these reasons that I call upon the each one of the members of the battery here today, do not take this honour lightly,” he said during the Freedom ceremony. “Handle it with the upmost respect and responsibility.”
The ceremony continued with an inspection and salutes and ending with another march along with a roll-past featuring a light armoured vehicle and Howitzers.
On Sunday, an open house was held at the armouries on Parade Street.