Freedom of Entry Parade - 18 April 2015

The Freedom of Entry Parade was held today in the City of Marion, Adelaide, South Australia. This event was held as part of the 100 Years of ANZAC commemorations, leading up to this year's ANZAC Day. The parade was by the 9th Combat Service Support Battalion, Warradale (The battalion has connections to some of the soldiers who went to Gallipoli), supported by the Australian Army Band, Adelaide.
'Freedom of Entry' or 'Freedom of the City' is a tradition in which municipal authorities grant a trusted military unit permission to march through its streets.
The Channel Nine News Crew was there and conducted interviews with RSL veterans and the Mayor of Marion, Kris Hanna before the parade began.
In this parade, the senior police officer from the Sturt Police Station, 'challenges' the soldiers on behalf of the citizens of Marion (sort of like a "Who goes there!" type thing). The soldiers reply, affirming their trusted status and that they indeed have permission to march. The police officer steps aside and the soldiers march on (If you turn up the volume and try to ignore the dog barking and the ambulance that went past, you can hear the reply from the soldiers..."9th Combat Service Support Battalion, exercising it's right and privilege to march through the City of Marion, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, band playing and banners flying")
I marched alongside the soldiers to try to convey the feeling of being there to the viewer. I felt a sense of pride in our soldiers and remembered the ones who have fought in the past and even now, fighting to keep our country safe and free.
The soldiers marched to the Marion Cultural Center, where an exhibition of ANZAC memorabilia was being held in the M Gallery.
I created this video with the CZcams Video Editor ( / editor )