BANNER

Description: BANNER IS MADE OF LIGHT BROWN LEATHER WITH BLACK WRITING ON IT. ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BANNER ARE THE WORDS "FREEDOM OF THE CITY" THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT "FREEDOM OF THE CITY" MEANS, AS WELL AS TO WHOM THIS HONOR HAS BEEN GRANTED - "18TH AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT". THIS IS GRANTED BY THE MAYOR, AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE. NEAR THE TOP OF THE BANNER ARE THE RESPECTIVE SYMBOLS OF THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE, AND THE 18TH AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE RESPECTIVELY.

History: THIS BANNER, CREATED DURING MAYOR CARPENTER'S STAY AS MAYOR (1986-2001), COMMEMORATES THE CEREMONIAL 'FREEDOM OF THE CITY' WHICH WAS A PRACTICE DATING BACK TO MEDIEVAL TIMES WHERE A CITY'S GATES WERE OPENED TO A MILITARY UNIT FOR THEM TO FREELY ENTER AND LEAVE. THIS PARTICULAR HONOR WAS BESTOWED ON THE 18TH AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT BY MAYOR CARPENTER AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE JOHN LAFLAMME. THE PRECISE DATE OF THIS CEREMONIAL HONOR, WAS SATURDAY MAY 24 1997. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE 'FREEDOM OF THE CITY' CEREMONY WAS EXCERPTED FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE MAY 25, 1997 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. "THE GRANTING OF THE FREEDOM OF A CITY TO TROOPS OF THE REALM IS A HIGH LONGSTANDING HONOR. TRADITIONALLY, TROOPS BEARING ARMS WISHING TO ENTER A CITY WERE STOPPED AT THE CITY'S GATES AND ASKED THE PURPOSE OF THEIR VISIT. THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE - IN THIS CASE LETHBRIDGE MAYOR DAVID CARPENTER - MUST DETERMINE IF THEIR INTENTIONS ARE HONORABLE AND GRANT OR DECLINE ADMITTANCE. 'IN 1966 THE 18TH FIELD (ARTILLERY) REGIMENT HAD THE HONOR OF EXERCISING FREEDOM OF THE CITY. WE ARE FOLLOWING IN THE BOOTSTEPS,' SAID [LT.-COL. SHELDON] STEINKE..." SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARCOPY OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLE.