By Lieutenant-Colonel Veronique Gervais

On Sunday, September 23, as the Army Run unfolded in Ottawa, a contingent of Canadians participated in another race in Ortona, Italy.

Ortona for Runners and Cantina di Ortona launched the event in conjunction with the new Ortona Army Run Challenge, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Ortona, a battle in which Canada participated in 1943.

The race was first-of-its-kind, and a real success, thanks in part to the support of the Army Run team who provided the dog-tag medals that the runners wore proudly after the race.

The race kicked off with a memorable ceremony featuring the musical piece “la Sonnerie aux morts”, followed by the Canadian and Italian national anthems. Several Canadian Armed Forces members and their families took part in the event, including Lieutenant-General Chris Whitecross, Commander of the NATO Defense College in Rome, and Lieutenant-General Christian Juneau, Deputy Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command located in Naples.

Congratulations to all participants!