Canadian Tulip Festival: Ottawa, Canada May 2015

[Eric B]

Hello

Thank you Stuart

As stated earlier this is NOT A PARADE.

This is a National Commemoration Service organized by DND and Veterans Affairs Canada at the National War Memorial.

The Ottawa Tulip Festival (Who is their own entity and is not the Canadian Government) invited the re-enactor world and MV owners to participate in their events. A Military encampment/ battle etc was envisioned including a PARADE. Some of the re-enactors and MV owners volunteered to help.

When the Tulip Festival organizers eventually started to seriously look at a parade, they discovered that VAC and DND had already booked a date and submitted a permit for a Ceremony...as a result they offered the MV’s for the event, not knowing the difference between a Parade and a Ceremony. (Sometimes both are put together)

When i was approached to assist with the PARADE it took me a while to eventually hook up with my old contacts to get the answers that i needed. Thus i discovered that this is NOT A PARADE and could not be made into one due to the restrictions already in place.

This event is on a weekday; therefore roads in the vicinity cannot be closed for any significant period of time. Only rolling closures will take place to get the Ceremony participants from a - b. Only one lane will be closed nearest to the NWM on the east and west side during the service.

There is only room for the MV's to park on the west side. Thus restricting space, which is why no trailers, towed guns etc will be permitted.

There is no available space available to unload un-plated vehicles and then to park the tow vehicle with trailer. As a result we have to limit participants to those that can get to the staging area under their own power legally.

The Dutch Government is not involved in any of the planning.

This is not what any of us had envisioned when we heard about a PARADE being planned but it is the best we can come up with under the circumstances.

As Stuart indicated all vehicles are still welcome to participate in the Tulip
Festival Events.

Thanks

Eric

[Robin Craig]

Sorry to report but we are not going.

I'm farming and the push is getting seed in the ground.

Have fun the rest of you.

Robin

[maple_leaf_eh]

The M151A2 is insured and tagged, the gas tank is back in and both batteries are holding their charge. I found my olive green combats and cap. Ready for the road.

[maple_leaf_eh]

The Ottawa Police Service had Elgin Street closed for our procession of mostly Jeeps with vet's on board enroute to services at the National War Memorial. Eric did a good job shepherding the cats in the marshalling area and then on the road. The TV news (rightfully) concentrated on the marching troops and veterans, and the local paper had a great photo on an MB with uniformed WW2 reenactors.

Saturday the HMV crowd and reenactors formed up at Queen Juiliana Park as part of the Canadian Tulip Festival celebrations. The south end of the park was taken over for their encampment, marquis tents and wall tents, and wartime Allied and German vehicles. The central "half" of the park was the reenacting field. The north end was for the (sad face) post war vehicles. Nevertheless, my M151A2, an M38A1, the Iltis crowd from Trois Rivieres, and Mike Calnan's tan M35 truck were eye candy to entice more visitors. It is amazing how similar personalities gravitate to our hobby. I have a brother from a French Canadian family! Bienvenue Bill!

Gene tasked us a perimeter guards to direct pedestrians, dog walkers, moms and dads (and cranky people whose walking routines were being interrupted). We were relieved by some juice-monkey bodybuilder security guards who arrived before the scripted smoke, explosives and blanks. Mike gave an animated commentary for the reenacting, although even from a distance I heard a few historic exaggerations.

Many interested visitors and curious "car guys" passed through. I was late getting home for Mother's Day supper arrangements because a father and son were so interested in mine that I just couldn't abandon them. The son has a Jeep Commando and was immediately drawn to the military design elements that carried over to his vehicle.

I have family and house duties on Sunday

[Ed Storey]

Was the location really that good? I was there at 1630Hrs and the Tulip Festival was still full of people were as the re-enactment site was nearly empty.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Ed, are you volunteering to help promote next year's?

I had to spin out shortly after the reenacted battle because of Mother's Day arrangements. But the others on my end of the field were staying the night.

The reenacting was part of the official program and on the event map. It is well displayed on the website and program of activities. Not much more to be done except maybe march a few platoons line-abreast through the tulip display areas herding tourists in front of them towards the other side.

[Ed Storey]

If those of you who were at the site, thought that it was what you wanted, and it met your needs and expected public attendance, then fine, stick with it.

If the intent was to bring public awareness to the 70th Anniversary and to the military enthusiast hobby in general, then what I am suggesting that perhaps you may wish to reconsider the location.

Either way, this should be something that your organizers look at and discuss with the Tulip Festival.

[M38CDNBill]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

...I have a brother from a French Canadian family! Bienvenue Bill!...

Salut Terry,

It was a real pleasure to meet you and my colleagues were also happy to share this weekend in your company. Next time we'll be in Ottawa, I will be with my M151A2 in solidarity with you



Cheers

Guy

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by M38CDNBill

Salut Terry,

It was a real pleasure to meet you and my colleagues were also happy to share this weekend in your company. Next time we'll be in Ottawa, I will be with my M151A2 in solidarity with you

...

Cheers

Guy

Est ce que l'indicatif d'appelle un deux alpha dit quelle que chose?

[M38CDNBill]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Est ce que l'indicatif d'appelle un deux alpha dit quelle que chose?

Salut Terry,

The call sign 12A is one of the A Squadron of the Three Rivers Regiment. I found few years ago a picture where we saw a M151A2 who served in that regiment with this call sign. I painted that same call sign on mine because I live in the same city as this regiment.

Cheers