It is elegant, it has a bearing
when walking, it has a noble title and now, it is officially a brigadier of the
Norwegian army, one of the most important positions that can be held in the
militia of that country. This is Sir Nils Olav, king penguin who lives in the
zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has earned the respect of people in his country
and Norway.
The curious story of this
Norwegian penguin comes from afar. You have to go back to 1961 when the
penguin's father was adopted by the King's Guard. Years later, at his death,
his son replaced him and would go up the ranks of the guard until his
appointment as a gentleman.
Now, the penguin holds the title
of brigadier. Sir Nils Olav's video reviewing fifty Norwegian soldiers and
being named brigadier at the zoo where he lives is sensational.
In 1961 the King's Guard of
Norway visited the Scottish city of Edinburgh for an exhibition exercise. Then
Lieutenant Nils Egelien was interested in the penguin colony of the city's zoo.
Eleven years later, when the guard returned to Edinburgh, Lieutenant Egelien
got the unit to adopt one of the colony's specimens.
The penguin adopted by the Royal
Guard was renamed Nils, in honor of Lieutenant Egelien, and Olav, by King Olav
V of Norway. The penguin was given the rank of corporal and it was decided that
he would be promoted every time the King's Guard visited Edinburgh. In 1982 he
was appointed first out and became sergeant in 1987.
Nils Olav I and Nils Olav II
Shortly after his promotion to
sergeant, Nils Olav passed away, and his place was taken by Nils Olav II, his
son, who at that time was only two years old. The heir descendant continued to
climb the military ranks and obtained the rank of sergeant major of the
regiment, later that of chief colonel and was finally granted the title of
knight.
The King of Norway, Harald V was
the one who decided to include Sir Nils Olav II in royalty and thousands of
people attended the brigadier proclamation ceremony at the Edinburgh Zoo.
During the appointment, the penguin reviewed fifty soldiers on duty and stood
in front of his own statue.
Now, it was the turn of this
little boy to attend the appointment ceremony where, like a military man, he
paraded in front of 50 uniformed soldiers and paid honors for those present.
Afterwards, he was decorated and promoted to brigadier general. Of course, the
most excited were the zoo staff members, who accompanied Sir Nils Olav all the
time.
This act also represents the
union between the peoples of Norway and Scotland and in both countries they are
happy that the tradition continued despite all the years that have passed since
the first Nils Olav ... Ah, if you were wondering, yes, he received Your medal
corresponding to the rank.
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