History was created during the 47th year of Fiji’s Independence from Great Britain as the members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces performed the Trooping of the Colors Parade of the Third Fiji Infantry Regiment (3FIR) color at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
This was also history as it was the first time for the Fiji Day celebration to be held at the western side of the country.
The Trooping of the Colors Parade was led by the Commanding Officer of the 3FIR Lieutenant-Colonel Penioni Naliva and was reviewed by His Excellency the President of Fiji and Commander-In-Chief of the RFMF Major-General (Ret) Jioji Konrote.
In addition, the Trooping of the Colors was executed by men and women of the 3FIR and is the third time in history of the Battalion to be conducted since its deployment to the Solomons during World War 2. Afterwards, the march pass commenced followed by the 21 gun salute and the singing of the National Anthem.
The event concluded with a march-pass through Nadi Town and a Mayoral Salute was accorded to the Mayor of Nadi. This gesture occurs every time troops march through a city.
What is the Trooping of the Color?
Trooping of the Color is an old ceremony whereby a battalion would fall in by companies and the color-party would “troop” or march the colors through the ranks so that every man would see that the colors were intact. This was done before and after every battle.
It is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies and has been a tradition of the British Infantry Regiments since the 17th Century.
The Regiment colors embody its spirit and service as well as its fallen soldiers. The loss of a color or the captures of an enemy color were respectively considered the greatest shame or the greatest glory on the battlefield.
