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Freedom of the CityThe 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.
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 LondonIn 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 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]
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 citiesIn 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 CityThe 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. Alice, North Dakota
Bakersfield, CaliforniaBoise, Idaho
Detroit, MichiganRecipients include:
Gainesville, FloridaKingston, JamaicaThis 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. Las Vegas, Nevada
St. George, Utah
LondonImage:Key to the City of London, Charles Lindbergh.JPG Lindbergh's key Awarded to Charles Lindbergh. New York, New YorkThe City of New York bestows the "Key to the City" upon individuals that it wishes to honour in such a manner. Recipients include:
St. Louis, Missouri
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaThe 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.[citation needed] The requirements have since become more stringent. Recipients include:
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