Sunday, 29 May 2016 marked the United Nations Annual International Peacekeepers Day. To mark the occasion, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) conducted its Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at its Memorial Garden in Arbour Hill. International Peacekeepers Day was established to honour the memory of the United Nations peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace and to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage.
Since the first United Nations peacekeeping mission was established in 1948 until April 2016, 3,400 military, police and civilian personnel have lost their lives in the service of peace as a result of acts of violence, accidents and disease.
Fifteen years ago, the United Nations had fewer than 40,000 Military and police personnel. Today, more than 105,000 uniformed personnel from 124 troop- and police-contributing countries serve under the United Nations flag, along with 18,000 international and national civilian staff and United Nations Volunteers.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin was the principal guest at IUNVA’s Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony in Arbour Hill. IUNVA’s Chairman Eddie Robinson welcomed all attendees. The Prayer Service was conducted by Rev Fr Seamus Madigan HCF and Rev Canon Aisling Shine. Ms Nora Qwen was the Guest Speaker.
Following the reading of the Roll of Honour and Wreath-laying, the ceremony included a minute’s silence, a piper’s lament and the sounding of Last Post and Reveille. The ceremony concluded with the playing of the National Anthem by IUNVA’s Pipe Band on the occasion of its inaugural parade.
Attendance at the Arbour Hill ceremony included families, relatives and friends of the 94 Irishmen from the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and United Nations Civilian Personnel who died while serving on peacekeeping missions throughout the world and whose names are inscribed on IUNVA’s Memorial Stone in Arbour Hill.
Also in attendance were the President and members of IUNVA, and representatives of numerous Veterans Associations such as 2 Fd Arty Regt Association, 2 Inf Bn Association, 5 Inf Bn Association, the Irish Guards Association, the Royal Air Force Association, the Royal Navy Association, the French Veterans Association, ONET and ARCO.
The Defence Forces was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Major-General Kevin Cotter and Brigadier-General Michael Beary. Also in attendance were Major-General Vincent Savino (Retd) President of IUNVA, Major-General David O’Murchoe (Retd) representing the Royal British Legion, Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retd) representing the Military Heritage of Ireland Trust (CLG), Colonel Max Walker British Defence Attaché and Lieutenant-Colonel Sean Cosden, US Defence Attaché.
View our Flickr Gallery for this Ceremony>>
Photographs supplied by P.A. Pakenham
