Patriotism was on full display.
Prince Henry of Wales was the parade’s Reviewing Officer.
The Cadet Corps Drill Team’s presentation was well received.
Also on hand to watch the proceedings was pop superstar Rihanna.
Pride and industry on display at parade
Sat, 12/03/2016 - 12:00am
A fantastic display of pride and industry.
A one-day delay, change in venue and truncated schedule did not dampen the spirit of the armed and unarmed troops on parade at the historic Kensington Oval for the 50th Anniversary Independence Parade.
Under the direction of Parade Commander Major Wendy Yearwood, almost 30 units with 1 032 individuals marched around the grounds under the watchful eye of Reviewing Officer Prince Henry of Wales, who was dressed smartly in military regalia.
As the mass band of the Barbados Defense Force, the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Cadet Corps played their renditions of the popular tunes of ‘Barbados My Island of Dreams’, ‘Beautiful Barbados’ and Peter Ram’s ‘ThePledge’, an excitement descended with the setting of the sun as the curtain came down on the last event of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
A special treat for the crowd was the unit made up of several of the cadets, who had marched on November 30, 1966, including Comedian Mac Fingall and historian Trevor Marshall. They were dressed smartly in black and gold uniforms. Meanwhile, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Nurses Association, the Barbados Transport Board, the Barbados Immigration Department and the Church Lads and Girls Brigade were on show for the first time.
Hundreds of Barbadians filled the oval with a festive atmosphere, cheering and screaming loudly as the various groups marched past, before later adding their voices lustily to the singing of the National Anthem, and to the Happy Birthday song.
In addition, the US Coast Guard’s Silent Drill Team put on a skillful display as they twirled and at times, tossed their rifles in a synchronized fashion to a beat only they could hear, while the Cadet Corps Drill Team’s presentation of the number 50 and the Broken Trident with blue, yellow and black umbrellas was met with loud cheers of appreciation.
The parade then marched through the City to the Parliament buildings where it gave Prime Minister Freundel Stuart the salute. (JMB)