Key To The City
The Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected citizens freedom from serfdom, the tradition still lives on in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada – although today, the title of "freeman" confers no special privileges. The Freedom of the City can also be granted by municipal authorities to military units which have earned the city's trust; in this context, it is sometimes called the Freedom of Entry. This allows them the freedom to parade through the city, and is an affirmation of the bond between the regiment and the citizenry.
In some countries, such as the United States, esteemed residents and vistors are instead presented with the Key to the City, a more tangible but similarly symbolic honour.
Read more about Key To The City: Military Privilege, Entitlement To Civil Privileges, Key To The City
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