MEMBERS of the Royal Australian Navy and the US Navy will parade through the city on Sunday morning as part of the commissioning of “USS Canberra”, a US Navy warship.

Called a “freedom of entry” ceremony, the sailors – 100 from “USS Canberra” and 100 members of “HMAS Canberra” – will parade from Veteran’s Park, down Northbourne Avenue, along London Circuit and Constitution Avenue, ending at the National Convention Centre.

The parade will start at 10am and take about 45 minutes.

At Civic Square, the ACT Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan will “challenge” the commanding officer of “USS Canberra”, Commander Bobby Barber, and review the parade, before allowing entrance to the city.

Once the ceremony has finished, the contingent will ‘fall out’ at the National Convention Centre.

The “USS Canberra” is the only American naval vessel named after a city outside the US. It is an Independence-class littoral combat ship  and the second US ship to be named “Canberra”, after the Australian cruiser “HMAS Canberra” was sunk during the Battle of Savo Island.