FREEDOM OF THE CITY

:''For the game scenario see Freedom City.''
'Freedom of the City' is an award made by some municipalities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and Italy to esteemed members of its community; such people may then be termed Freemen or Freewomen of the City. 'Key to the City' is a similar award made in several other countries, and is more prevalent in the United States.

Contents

Freedom of the City

Freedom of the City of London

Freedom of the City in other cities

Key to the City

Notable awards of Key to the City

External links

Freedom of the City

The Free status dates back to medieval times when city and town charters drew a distinction between free men, and vassals of a feudal Lord. Early Freedom of the City ceremonies had great importance in affirming that the awardee enjoyed privileges such as the right to earn money and own land, and protection within the town. Before parliamentary reform in 1832, freedom of the city or town in many boroughs conferred the right to vote.
In contemporary society, the award of Freedom of a City or Borough tends to be entirely ceremonial, given by the local government in many Towns and Cities on those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or upon any whom the City wishes to bestow an honour.
The Key to the City award is used in many places, in a manner similar to Freedom of the City (see below)

Freedom of the City of London

In England, the award is thought to have originated with the Freedom of the City of London, first made in 1237.
There are still Freemen of the City of London. New Freemen receive a guide to conducting their lives in an honourable fashion. Freemen's children get admission preference at the City of London School, the City of London School for Girls, and the City of London Freemen's School. Also, apocryphally, a Freeman has the right to drive sheep and cattle over London Bridge, and to carry a naked sword in public; and if officers of the City of London Police find a freeman drunk and incapable, they will bundle him into a taxi and send him home rather than throw him in a cell and later charge him. The benefit of immunity from prosecution for being drunk and disorderly has long since disappeared, however the droving rights were exercised on June 17, 2006 when a flock of about 30 sheep was driven across the Millennium Bridge to mark the start of London Architecture Week.[1]
Today the Freedom of the City is still taken up by some 1,800 people every year. Prior to 1996, the Freedom was only open to British or Commonwealth Citizens over 21 years of age and of good character. Now, however, it has been extended globally, and persons of any nationality may apply either by nomination, by patrimony or by being presented by a Livery Company. There is a long standing tradition of admitting women, who used to be called 'free sisters'.
Although the Freedom is not an honour or award except in the case of Honorary Freedom, many people who have lived or worked in the City are proud to become part of the City's history by becoming Freemen. The Freedom is open to all who are genuinely interested and meet the criteria set down.

Freedom of the City in other cities

In other British cities, towns and boroughs, the qualifications for Freedom differ. For example, in Reading and York, only the children or grandchildren of Freemen may apply although Honorary Freedoms may be bestowed to whomever the City Council chooses.
In the Republic of Ireland Freedom of the City is generally given to noted foreign and national dignitaries and the list rarely exceeds a few dozen. The cities of the Republic of Ireland generally give various privileges, for instance Dublin allows the right to vote in certain elections, bring goods for sale in the city without customs and the right to pasture sheep on common ground such as College Green and St. Stephen's Green.
Elsewhere in the world, Freedom of the City has a narrower definition: it is an award to local and foreign military units, giving them the right to march into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed". (To do so without the Freedom of the City would historically be regarded as an act of aggression.)

Key to the City

The ''key to the city'' is a similar award used in several countries, especially in the United States, to honor esteemed visitors, local residents, and organizations. This honor involves the ceremonial presentation of an ornamental key but carries no formal privileges or distinctions.

Notable awards of Key to the City

'Toronto, Ontario, Canada'
The City of Toronto bestows the "Key to the City" upon individuals that it wishes to honour in such a manner, usually at the discretion of the Mayor. Two-term mayor, Mel Lastman was renowned for giving keys to the city to minor celebrities merely to get a chance to meet them. The requirements have since become more stringent.
Recipients include:

★ 2000: Barenaked Ladies, a Canadian pop band.

★ October 23 2000: J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series of books.

★ 2001: Blue Rodeo, a Canadian alt-country band.

★ November 18 2001: Jackie Chan, an action movie star, was awarded the Key to the City in recognition of filming a movie there.
'London, England'


★ Awarded to Charles Lindbergh.

★ 2005: Freedom of the City of London granted to Luciano Pavarotti
'Liverpool, England'
Recipients of Freedom of the City of Liverpool include:

★ April 30 1970: Elizabeth Margaret Braddock, better known as Bessie Braddock, Liverpool-born British Labour politician.

★ November 23 1983: Bob Paisley, best known for being one of the most successful managers in English football history whilst managing his only team Liverpool Football Club in the 1970s and 1980s.

★ March 7 1984: George Harrison, Liverpool-born rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, author and sitarist best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles.

★ March 7 1984: John Lennon, Liverpool-born songwriter, singer, musician, graphic artist, author and political activist, one of the founders of The Beatles.

★ March 7 1984: Paul McCartney, Liverpool-born songwriter, singer, musician, graphic artist, author and political activist, one of the founders of The Beatles.

★ March 7 1984: Ringo Starr, real name Richard Starkey Jr, Liverpool-born musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles.

★ July 6 1994: Nelson Mandela, 11th President of South Africa.
'Kingston, Jamaica'
This award is given by the Kingston and St. Andrew Cooperation (KSAC) in collaboration with the Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew. It is given to outstanding individuals, who did or continue to make a mark in the city of Kingston. This person or group must meet certain criteria, and display outstanding ability and commitment to building the city and nation.
This award is the highest award given by a city/parish.

★ On April 23, 2006 -Bishop, Hon. Dr. Carmen L. Stewart, OD, JP, Custos Rotorulum of St. Andrew, Jamaica.
'Tokyo, Japan'
Recipients include:

★ Helen Keller [2]

★ Dr. Leon Picon, One of the founding members of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations and a former Secretary-General. [3]

★ Paul E. Ruestow, U.S. Major General [4]

★ 1959: Bill Effinger, former Mayor of Buena Park, California . [5]

★ 1963: John Glenn, Tokyo Gov. Rotaro Azuma presents Glenn with key to the city of Tokyo on May 30, 1963. [6]

★ Francis Sumner Carruth, Lt. Col. in the Untied States AirForce. His management skills played an important role in heading off a Labor Strike in Tokyo. [7]

★ Dr. Albert M. Schwartz who was a vascular surgeon and a Col. in the US Army.
'New Orleans, Louisiana'

★ 2006: Kentucky-New Orleans Architecture Studio for their work on restoration and re-design efforts of Mickey Markey Park in Bywater on November 21, 2006. [8]

★ 2007: The Harris County Hospital District received the key to the City of New Orleans on April 26, 2007 in recognition of its efforts to provide health care to Hurricane Katrina evacuees at its Astrodome Clinic in September, 2005. [9]
'Albion, Michigan'
Recipients include:

★ 1964: Aunt Jemima visits Albion on January 25, 1964. She was there to raise money for the March of Dimes and came on many other occasions as well. [10]

★ 1960s: Ann Landers was presented with a key upon her visit to Starr Commonwealth for Boys. [11]
'Detroit, Michigan'
Recipients include:

★ 1980: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was awarded by Mayor Coleman Young for having donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to a local church. [12] [13]

★ Jerome "The Bus" Bettis on January 31 2006 was awarded by Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick to the Detroit native days before his Super Bowl win.

★ On January 2, 2007 Steve Yzerman after his retirement and having his jersey retired.

★ Geri Allen an internationally known award-winning composer and pianist. [14]
'Flint, Michigan'

★ 1989: Lois M. Craig [15]

★ 2007: LaKisha Jones on June 10, 2007 received a proclamation and key to the city from Mayor Don Williamson. [16]
'New York, New York'
The City of New York bestows the "Key to the City" upon individuals that it wishes to honour in such a manner.
Recipients include:

★ Laila Shahzada was awarded the Bicentennial Gold Medallion and Key to the City of New York for her contributions in art. She is the first and only Pakistani to receive the Key to New York. [17]

★ Charles Lindbergh: [18]

★ August 4 2004: Nestor Sulpico, a Filipino-American taxi driver, was awarded the Key to the City in recognition of his honesty after returning a bag containing black pearls worth $70,000 that had been left in his cab.

★ September 25 2005: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave the Dalai Lama the Key to the City, calling him "a moral beacon to millions around the world, with a clear and constant voice for human rights."

★ New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg announced March 28, 2007 "Teletubbies Day" and gave the key to the city to the Teletubbies.

★ New York Yankees Pitcher David Wells after throwing a Perfect Game

★ New York Mets Pitcher Tom Glavine after winning his 300th game

★ New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez after hitting his 500th home run.

External links

★ Guess Who Got The Key To Detroit? from CBS News

★ The website of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London

★ City of London website

★ Military Context of "Freedom of the City"

★ Royal Engineers Museum Freedoms granted to the Royal Engineers

★ [19] Freemen of the City of Liverpool