80th Anniversary Ortona Tour
80th Anniversary Ortona Tour
2023 marks the 80th Anniversary of the World War II Italian Campaign. The RCR has organized battlefield tours of Italy. The Regiment is paying for 16 members who have already been selected, several of whom are bringing spouses. There are six descendants of regimental members who fought in Italy attending also, and subject matter experts from the University of New Brunswick.
The regimental aim is to place and unveil regimental plaques at historically significant locations and conduct an Ortona Toast near the site of the original toast.
The regimentally funded members will be flying out of Montreal on 15 Dec 22 and second group will be flying out of Toronto on 16 Dec 23. All will be returning on 22 Dec 23.
The schedule is;
15 Dec 23 – Montreal group departs
16 Dec 23 – Montreal Group arrives Rome and spend the night, Toronto Group departs
17 Dec 23 – Toronto Group arrives Rome and all move to Ortona
18 Dec 23 – Tour Monte Casino
19 Dec 23 – Tour Gothic Line
20 Dec 23 – Tour Ortona
21 Dec 23 – Commemorative Ceremony, Ortona Toast near the original site, and a Regimental Semi-Formal dinner.
22 Dec 23 – All fly home from Rome
There are a total of 20 opportunities remaining with 35 already reserved. The remaining seats are available to members of the regimental family and the member may bring a guest. The cost for each remaining seat will be completely covered by the member.
Costs are anticipated to be not more then $3,000CDN based on information received to date. If you are interested in this opportunity, contact RHQ at Scott.Robinson2@forces.gc.ca for more details. The remaining seats will be filled on a first come, first serve basis, and will only be confirmed at payment.
A more detailed schedule, to include the dress and admin for each event, will be provided at a later date to those attending.