Okanagan Military Museum
NEWS RELEASE
OMMS NR- 8.08.05 - Freedom Route 60+
Freedom Route +60 Convoy- Parade of Vintage Military vehicles travels through the BC Interior
Kelowna, BC – Over thirty vintage military vehicles, known as the Freedom Route+60 Convoy will be touring Southern Interior BC communities from the 14th to the 19th August, 2005 in one of the largest gatherings of this type in BC history.
Sixty years ago, they rolled through Italy and Northern Europe carrying Canadian soldiers as they liberated countries from the grip of the Third Reich ... sixty years later many of those same vehicles are rolling through communities throughout the Southern Interior of BC in honour of our veterans in recognition of their sacrifices during this national Year of the Veteran and 60th anniversary of the end the Second World War! -- Paul Seguna, Okanagan Military Museum Director (Public Affairs)
The Freedom Route +60 Convoy is a result of the efforts of the Western Command of the Military Vehicles Historical Society (WCMVHS) of BC as they pay homage to our veterans and Canada's military heritage with the unique contribution of their restored examples of that heritage on wheels. The WCMVHS is being supported in this event by Royal Canadian Legions in the visited towns. In addition, the Freedom Route+60 Convoy participants are also being supported by the BC interior units of 39 Brigade Group (the Army Reserves in BC), the Rocky Mountain Rangers in Kamloops and the British Columbia Dragoons in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. The Rocky Mountain Rangers and British Columbia Dragoons are providing their facilities in support of the convoy in addition to recruiting teams that will participate in the events. The Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre (VACSTC) and cadet corps in the region are also supporting the events of the Freedom Route +60 Convoy.
The Okanagan Military Museum is pleased to have the Freedom Route+60 Convoy vehicles on display in the vicinity of the museum on the afternoon and evening of the 17th August.
Starting Sunday, 14 August, the military vehicles will begin departing from Langley, BC having participated in the Abbotsford Airshow. The vehicles will move in a large convoy made up of 'packets' of several vehicles as they make the trek into the interior of BC . They will arrive in various towns according to the schedule below:
Aug. 14 th 2005 ASHCROFT: Convoy (1 st Packet) moves out at 09:00 am and proceeds en route to Ashcroft. There will be several stops on the way. The convoy will stop overnight in Ashcroft.
Aug. 15 th 2005 KAMLOOPS: Convoy will depart Ashcroft at 10:00 am and proceed to Kamloops to the East end of Thompson Park Mall. Public viewing will take place at the mall from 12:00-2:30 pm. Local Veterans wanting to participate in the parade and may contact the Royal Canadian Legion Cliff Hart at 374-1742 to book a seat. The vehicles will then parade through town and move to The Rocky Mountain Rangers Armoury at 1221 McGill Road where general public viewing is available from 3:00- 5:00 pm. The convoy will be joined at the Armoury by the new Canadian Armed Forces Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV). The LAV will also be available for viewing at Aberdeen Mall on Tuesday16 Aug at Aberdeen Mall 9 am - 4 pm. Recruiting information will also be available. For more information please contact Mr Cliff Hart, President of the Royal Canadian Legion or Major Wendy McKenzie at 318-0343.
Aug. 16 th 2005 VERNON: Convoy will depart Kamloops at 09:00 am and proceed to Vernon arriving between 11am and noon. While in Vernon there will display of the vehicles at the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre (VACSTC) ,that afternoon between 1 and 5 pm at the parade grounds and that evening from 6 - 8 pm at the British Columbia Dragoons (BCDs)Armoury in Vernon located near the VACSTC. The vehicles will also participate in a vehicle parade through Vernon as they enter the city from Kamloops. Convoy to stop overnight in Vernon at the BCDs armoury.
Aug. 17 th 2005 KELOWNA: Convoy to depart 10:00 am for Kelowna stopping for a coffee break at the Oyama Legion on the way. The vehicles will arrive at the display area in the city parking lot across from the Okanagan Military Museum on Ellis St at approximately 11:45 am via Glenmore Rd and Bernard and Doyle Avenues. Between 1:30 - 2:30 pm the convoy will tour around the downtown Kelowna cultural district (see map below) returning to the parking lot display area for public viewing until 7:00 pm. Convoy to stop overnight in Kelowna.
Aug. 18 th 2005 PEACHLAND/SUMMERLAND/PENTICTON: Convoy to depart at 09:00 am and proceed to Peachland where it will stop at the Peachland Legion for approximately 1-2 hrs before moving on to Summerland where it will stop at the Summerland Legion for lunch. Convoy moves to Penticton where there will be a vehicle display at the Penticton Legion parking lot from 2:30 - 6:00 pm. Convoy will stop overnight in Penticton.
Aug. 19 th 2005 KEREMEOS/PRINCETON: Convoy departs at 10:00 am for Keremeos, for a display Lasting several hours across from the Keremeos Legion. Lunch will be at this location. Convoy then proceeds to Princeton and displays vehicles outside the Princeton Legion. Convoy will stop overnight in Princeton where a BBQ for the convoy members will be held before departure on the last leg of the journey back to the lower mainland.
Veterans will be invited to join in by riding the vintage vehicles as they parade in the towns visited by the Freedom Route+60 Convoy. Veterans interested in participating should contact the Legions in the communities visited by the convoy. Freedom Route + 60 Convoy participants will also be dressed in military uniforms of the period as historical re-enactors of the dramatic events witnessed by many of their veteran passengers.
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Please contact your legion in visited communities for more information:
Please visit the Okanagan Military Museum website for more information at: www.okmilmuseum.ca
For information on the Freedom Route +60 Convoy also visit:
Military Vehicle Historical Society (Western Command) For information on the Year of the Veteran visit:
Year of the Veteran For further information, contact:
Keith Boehmer, The Okanagan Military Museum operations Manager- (250) 763-9292
Paul Seguna
Okanagan Military Museum
Director (North Okanagan/Public Relations)
(250) 558-5503
pseguna@shaw.caBill McLean,
Freedom Route+60 (Kelowna)
Military Vehicle Preservation Association
(250) 769-7258
logcabinquilting@shaw.caCapt. Quentin Wyne,
BCD Dragoons Unit Public Affairs Officer
Tel: 250 712-4227
e-mail: Wyne.QA@forces.gc.ca
BCD Recruiting info at www.bcdragoon.ca Maj. Wendy McKenzie
Rocky Mountain Rangers Unit Public Affairs Officer
tel: 250 318-0343
Rocky Mountain Rangers Recruiting Wayne Emde
Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre
Public Information Officer
250 549-5859
e-mail: emde.w@cadets.netOkanagan Military Museum media contacts:
Keith Boehmer, Museum Manager: (250) 763-9292 or
Paul Seguna,Marketing/PR Director: (250) 558-5503 (Coldstream) or
