Jean presents new flag to the Canadian navy
Last Updated: Saturday, June 27, 2009 | 8:22 PM ET
CBC News
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean walks along a line of sailors during an inspection of the Guards at a consecration of the Queen's Colour ceremony held at the Halifax Garrison Grounds. (Mike Dembeck/Canadian Press)
Considered a once-in-a-generation event, the Canadian navy received a new flag on Saturday during a parade steeped in pomp and pageantry at the Halifax Garrison Grounds.
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean, the commander-in-chief of the Canadian forces, presided over the ceremony known as the Queen's Colour and formally delivered a new flag to the navy.
In 1959, Queen Elizabeth presented her colour, or flag, to the Canadian navy, replacing one presented decades earlier by her father, King George VI.
The late Queen Mother presented another colour in 1979, incorporating Canada's new maple leaf flag. The navy has said that flag was looking tired and faded.
"The colour is a flag which is a symbol of the Canadian navy’s loyalty and dedication to our sovereign the queen, Queen Elizabeth, to our country Canada, and to all Canadian citizens," said Comm. Brian Palmer.
"It is something visible that we can see, we parade it on special occasions … and we render it a great honour because of its great symbolism to the navy."
In an address to 500 sailors and officers from across the country, Jean contrasted her girlhood fear of Haitian military with the pride she feels wearing the uniform as commander-in-chief of Canada's armed forces.
"I grew up under the yoke of a ruthless dictatorship, where the military uniform came to symbolize the brutal repression of the people, tyranny and massacres," Jean told the assembled ranks.
Jean proud to wear navy uniform
"You can see how far I have come, from the child who saw her parents, her family, her friends grappling with the horrors of oppression ... And I can say before you now with absolute certainty that it is an honour and a source of great pride for me to wear your uniform."
The old flag was marched off the field by an honour guard where it will be laid to rest in the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa.
The new flag, which is kept at defence headquarters in Ottawa, is the same as the 1979 version.
The navy's Queen's Colour is a silken white flag with the Canadian flag in the upper corner, the Royal Cypher for Canada in the centre and the navy's symbol in the lower edge. The edge of the colour is trimmed in gold.
The ceremony, watched by several thousand from the slope of Citadel Hill, also included a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by three helicopters including two Sea Kings and a Cormorant. Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff, Nova Scotia's Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis and newly elected Premier Darrell Dexter were among the dignitaries in attendance.
With files from The Canadian Press