This year’s national Independence Day parade will be organised in Tampere.
The Finnish Armed Forces (Puolustusvoimat) reported that a wide range of human and material resources will be displayed at the event. In addition, attendees can enjoy a free exhibition of military equipment that will be open in Ratinanniemi from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
According to the website Visit Tampere, the parade will incorporate troops from the Finnish Army, Navy and Air Force, National Defence University, Finnish Defence Forces’ Logictics Command, Finnish Border Guard and national defence organisations with the total strength of around 1,300 persons.
The review of troops will take place at Ratina Stadium at 12:00 with the parade troops aligning to position from 11:30 onwards.
The pass-in-review will be conducted on Tampereen valtatie starting at 1:00 PM. It will involve up to a thousand persons, 56 vehicles, 12 aircraft as well as a 30-equine strong heritage cavalry detachment of the Tampere Region Cavalry Guild Association.
Planes, helicopters and vehicles
The flypasts of the pass-in-review will feature Finnish Army NH90 transport helicopters and Hughes MD500 light helicopters as well as Air Force F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters and Hawk jet trainers. The flypasts will cause noise over the area of the Tampere city centre.
The dismounted detachments marching on foot will deploy at the Ratina bridge starting from the south part of the Hämeenpuisto park with the phase line of the pass-in-review at the east flank of the Ratina bridge
The vehicles get into formation for the pass-in-review in the south part of the Hämeenpuisto park in the area between Hallituskatu and Eteläpuisto.
The review site for the pass-in-review is located at the intersection of Voimakatu. The parade will be reviewed by Deputy Chief of Staff Armaments and Logistics Lieutenant General Timo Rotonen, accompanied in the pass-in-review by Mayor of Tampere Lauri Lyly and War Veteran Timo Salokannel.
The field devotional will be delivered in the review of troops by Field Bishop Pekka Särkiö. The parade troops will be commanded by Deputy Chief of Staff Army Operations Brigadier General Rami Saari. The parade arrangements remain the responsibility of the Armoured Brigade.
Programme for the day
- 9:00 Wreath laying ceremony at Kalevankangas Cemetery.
- 10:00 Lutheran Service at Tampere Lutheran Diocese Church.
- 11:30 Alignment of troops to position for the review of troops at Ratina Stadium.
- 12:00 Review of troops at Ratina Stadium.
- 13:00 Pass-in-review on Tampereen valtatie.
- 9:00 – 15:00 Equipment display in Ratinanniemi.
