Dennis Stow (left) chats with Dominion Grand President Charles Belzile during the official send-off for the Canadian contingent in the Nijmegen Marches.

With the Canadian flag being carried proudly by Legionnaire Dennis Stow of Pembroke, Ont., Branch, a representative team of regular and reserve military members, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Legion and even parliamentary marchers entered the square in front of the Canadian War Museum July 9 for the official send-off to the 87th four-day marches in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

“Canada has been participating in the marches since 1951,” said Canadian contingent commander Brigadier-General Peter Holt, who was taking part in his 15th Nijmegen Marches. “Last year all of our marchers made it through the four days and 160 kilometres. That is an accomplishment that I hope we can repeat,” he added.

Stow, who also completed the marches last year, will again be part of the contingent. “I am pleased to be able to do this again,” he said, having been called in as a replacement at the last moment for another Legionnaire who could not attend because of an injury suffered in training.

He had earlier applied to march as a representative of his old unit, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, who are marking their centenary this year. “But the slots were already filled,” he says, “so I was really pleased to get this opportunity, especially with a team going to Vimy Ridge this year.”

Grants of $5,000 from The Royal Canadian Legion and Skylink Aviation made the extra remembrance visit possible. Wreaths to be placed at both the Vimy Monument and the marchers’ normal ceremony at Groesbeek Ceremony were presented during the ceremony by Friends of the Canadian War Museum President Gerry Holtzhauer.

Also marching with the 200-member contingent was Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs David Pratt and, for the first time, a contingent of four from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Legion Dominion Grand President Charles Belzile, former Canadian army commander and former participant at Nijmegen, told the marchers that “the one muscle you will need to carry you through the four days will be the heart.”

Brigadier-General Holt agreed. “When everything else is tired and sore it’s the heart that makes you carry on. The people of the Netherlands never let us forget where we come from and how they feel about Canadians,” he added, “and that makes it easier to complete the course.”