It was 2002, and we were all excited. We had two 6th grade classes and one 5th grade, all with teachers and parents crowded into one bus, going downtown to a large coliseum to see Queen Elizabeth give new colours (flags) to her regiment. She first brought the regiment new colours in 1959, and now she was bringing new stuff.
There were 18,000 people in attendance. Most were veterans of her battalions in Canada, and their families. There were 4,000 tickets for the general public available on a first come, first served basis. I’m not sure how my daughter’s school got them but they did.
We arrived at 12:30, and had entertainment for hours. There were singers, dancers, circus performers and regimental mustering. There was a native blessing that went on for a while, and 15th century ceremonies depicting the battlefield changing of the colours. Then, at about 3:00, there was a ½ hour delay for the Queen’s procession. We did the wave etc. while we waited. The soldiers stood at attention. Finally she arrived, had several ceremonies, made a speech, shook hands with those in her way, got to the car and left.
There was a never ending leaving procedure for the school kids and their buses, as they had way too many buses for seniors and wheel chair veterans, so we had to walk for a mile with all the kids.
There were 18,000 people in attendance. Most were veterans of her battalions in Canada, and their families. There were 4,000 tickets for the general public available on a first come, first served basis. I’m not sure how my daughter’s school got them but they did.
We arrived at 12:30, and had entertainment for hours. There were singers, dancers, circus performers and regimental mustering. There was a native blessing that went on for a while, and 15th century ceremonies depicting the battlefield changing of the colours. Then, at about 3:00, there was a ½ hour delay for the Queen’s procession. We did the wave etc. while we waited. The soldiers stood at attention. Finally she arrived, had several ceremonies, made a speech, shook hands with those in her way, got to the car and left.
There was a never ending leaving procedure for the school kids and their buses, as they had way too many buses for seniors and wheel chair veterans, so we had to walk for a mile with all the kids.
It was great fun and we arrived home at 5:00, tired, hungry but everyone had a story to tell their children when they grow up about the day they saw the Queen.
I hope my daughter’s story will be about when she and her father went to see the Queen.
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