CALGARY – As part of an ancient honour, cadets marched in downtown Calgary with drums beating and colors flying Saturday afternoon.
The march was part of the “Freedom of the City” celebration and this year, hundreds of young people took part and filling the streets.
Hundreds of cadets marched to City Hall as onlookers lined the streets to watch.
The Freedom of the City Parade dates back centuries to ancient Rome, when military units were required to stay outside city walls.
The military would seek permission from civic leaders to march inside the city.
It symbolizes the city’s trust and respect for the unit.
“On behalf of city council and of the citizens of Calgary, I hearby welcome and invite #52 City of Calgary – Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron to exercise their right on April 9, 2016,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Five hundred cadets are in Calgary to mark the air cadet squadron’s 75th anniversary and one day, perhaps fly a plane of their own.
“Well, a lot of them, they come to us and say we want to be a pilot. Okay, we’ll teach you to be a pilot but there’s a lot of hoops you’ve got to jump through first,” said Stan Monkman from Air Cadet Alberta Provincial Committee.
“At 17-years-old when they graduate, they can go to the airport, sign an airplane out and go flying. They can’t rent a car until they’re 25-years-old but they can fly an airplane,” said Monkman.
Parents watching the parade said they’ve seen the benefits of serving in the cadets too.
“Leadership skills by far, definitely community oriented; and just the skills she’s gotten has been amazing,” said Lisa Jordan, whose daughters was in the parade.
“I think it’s awesome. I would love to be able to be in there with them. I would have loved to do this when I was a kid,” said Shaun Hammond, who is also a parent to a cadet.
For some in the audience, the opportunity still exists.
“Yeah, that’s really cool. I was actually thinking about joining it next year,” said Madison Jordan.
It’s the chance to be part of tradition and history.
Cadets Canada focuses on building leadership skills with youth between the ages of 12 and 19.