A military march and fly past will take place in The Levee this Saturday as part of a medieval armed forces ceremony.
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The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 2 Squadron will be granted Freedom of Entry to the City.
The Freedom of Entry concept dates back to the middle ages when disputes took place between land owning nobles.
This meant armed bodies were rarely admitted into cities.
However, in special cases, they were granted entry which signified true friendship and often the expectation that the armed body would assist in defense of the city.
This is the first Freedom of Entry ceremony in Maitland in three years.
Ninety servicemen and women from the No. 2 Squadron will form up in The Levee shared zone from 9.45am.
An inspection of the parade and handing over of the scroll will take place before the squadron march down High Street towards the Town Hall at 10.35am.
They will be ‘challenged’ by Central Hunter Local Area Commander, Superintendent Craig Jackson upon reaching the old Maitland Mercury building on High Street.
Once granted official entry, they will continue their march and salute the mayor and other dignitaries before arriving at Maitland Town Hall.
A modified Boeing 737 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft will complete two fly pasts.
The first will occur as a general salute to the mayor and the second after the challenge sequence.
Maitland mayor Cr Peter Blackmore said granting Freedom of Entry to an armed service or individual unit was the highest honour a city could bestow.
“This is an honour for myself as Mayor of Maitland but it is also significant for the community as I am acting on Maitland’s behalf,” he said.
“Being able to grant Freedom of Entry to the City is one way we can show how grateful we are for the No. 2 Squadron’s service to our country.”
Freedom of Entry to the City had previously been granted to the 234 Army Cadet Unit Maitland in 2000, HMAS Maitland in 2006 and 208 Squadron AAFC in 2013.
A full road closure will be in place from 8am-11am in The Levee Shared Zone and on Bulwer Street from High Street to Dransfield Lane.
In addition there will be rolling road closures in place on High Street from Bourke Street through to Devonshire Street between 10am and 11am.
All road closures will conclude at 11am.