COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the NORAD agreement.
Although NORAD originally stood up at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs on Sept 12, 1957, the official NORAD agreement between the governments of Canada and the United States was signed on May 12, 1958. On that date, the governments of Canada and the United States formally acknowledged their mutual commitment to defending their citizens from aerospace attacks.
According to the Honorable Peter MacKay, Canada’s Minister of Defence, “this unique organization really provides North Americans with the ability to sleep at night knowing that [Canadian and American service members] have them covered.
“The relationship between Canada and the United States is one that can not be replicated. It can not be imitated anywhere in the world,” MacKay said of the close cooperation between the U.S. and Canada as demonstrated by NORAD. Responsibilities for leadership and policy for the bi-national command is shared between the two sovereign nations.
NORAD’s 50th Anniversary will be celebrated tonight with a Golden Jubilee Ball at the Broadmoor Hotel and Resort. Tomorrow, a NORAD time capsule, embedded in a rock that came from Cheyenne Mountain, will be unveiled followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Command Center, located in the headquarters building at Peterson Air Force Base.
NORAD is the bi-national command responsible for aerospace warning and defense as well as maritime detection and warning for the United States and Canada.