The 96th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade took place on August 19th at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto. Two veteran teams of the Republic of China (R.O.C.), including the R.O.C. Veterans Association in Toronto (ROCVAT) and the Ontario Chapter of the Veterans Association of the Republic of China (VAROC), assembled their marching contingents and joined retired service men and women from all over the world. Members of the two teams firmly held R.O.C. and Canadian flags and marched in high spirits, which particularly stood out.
Thousands of veterans and currently serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the First and Second Wars allies participated in this year’s Warriors’ Day Parade. During the one-and-half-hour parade, all the marching contingents and bands marched along Princes’ Boulevard to the sounds of military bands, pipes and drums, warmly welcomed and saluted by the cheering crowds. The two R.O.C. contingents, when passing the Saluting Dais, were introduced as regiments in representation of the Republic of China. The announcement acknowledged the R.O.C.’s important role in leading the China-Burma-India Theater during the Second World War.
Director General of Toronto TECO Catherine Y. M. Hsu led the office staff and their family to participate in the event. Before the procession started, D.G. Hsu visited and reviewed the two R.O.C. teams and thanked them for representing the R.O.C. in this great event.
The ROCVAT was established in 1978 and this is the 28th time that it joined the Warriors’ Day Parade, while the VAROC started its participation in 2009. The two groups assembled more than 70 men and women this year to march in the parade. ROCVAT President Luo Shu-Sheng and VAROC President Wu Long-Guang both said that they felt very proud to represent R.O.C. veterans in the event.
It was a bright and sunny day. The audience filled the Exhibition Place to honour the veterans. When the teams passed through, the audience stood up to applaud from time to time.
The male members of the ROCVAT contingent passed the Saluting Dais during the 96th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade.
The female members of the ROCVAT contingent passed the Saluting Dais during the 96th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade.
The VAROC contingent passed the Saluting Dais during the 96th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade.
