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UN Peacekeepers' Day

Commemorations in Ireland

The United Nations General As- For example, by holding sporting who made the ultimate sacrifice
sembly resolution 57/129 of ii events, school and orphanage vi- while serving with UN peace-
December 2002 designated 29 sits, art and essay competitions, keeping forces in the Congo during
May as the International Day of photo exhibitions, neighbourhood 1963. It honoured the ninety-two
UN Peacekeepers paying tribute clean-ups, tree plantings, concerts personnel of the Defence Forces,
to all the men and women who and conferences on peace issues. An Garda Siochana and Civilian
have served and continue to serve Personnel who died while serving
in UN peacekeeping operations, Commemorations in Ireland on UN peacekeeping missions
acknowledging their high level of throughout the world from 1960 to
professionalism, dedication and With a long-serving history, Irish 2013 in Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon,
courage, and honouring the me- troops continue to be deployed the Mid-East, Somalia, Sarajevo,
mory of those who have lost their by the Defence Forces as part of East Timor, Liberia, Haiti and
lives in the cause of peace. United Nations' missions. In 2012 Sweden (Nordic Battle Group).
six unarmed military observers
On 29 May 2013, on the theme joined the United Nations mission As soldiers for peace (UN: We
'UN Peacekeeping: Adapting to in strife-torn Syria and a batta- believe), the Roll Call is long and
new challenges', at the United Na- lion of Irish troops joined Finnish their names are inscribed on the
tions' headquarters in New York, soldiers in a joint deployment in Memorial Stone in The Irish UN
the Secretary-General led official south Lebanon adjacent to Israel Memorial Garden -- not to be
ceremonies, including the laying of for six months. The soldiers from forgotten.
I
a wreath to honour all the peace- the io6th Battalion, many of them
keepers who had given their lives on a first tour of duty overseas, ITA MARGUET
while serving under the UN flag. In were drawn from twenty-four Irish
addition, the Dag Hammarskjold counties.
Medal was awarded posthumously Note: Acknowledgement is given to
to the peacekeepers who have fal- Organized by the Irish United sources used in preparation of this
len while serving the cause of the Nations Veterans Association, on text. It follows articles on United
United Nations during the prece- 19 May 2013 the Annual Wreath- Nations and Ireland (2004), Ire-
ding year in the service of peace laying Ceremony was held at land and United Nations (2005),
as a result of violence, accidents or the Irish UN Memorial Garden, National Day of Commemoration
disease. Arbour House, Dublin. The cere- (2010), Irish U.N. Veterans Asso-
mony was attended by many civic, ciation (2010), Ireland: United
In addition to solemn events at military and other representatives, Nations Peacekeeping (2011),
United Nations' offices, alongside including families, friends and United Nations Peacekeeping:
Member States and non-govern- members of the public. Soldiers of Peace (2011) by Ita
mental organizations around the Marguet.
world, this day is used to streng- The year 2013 also commemora-
then bonds with local popula- ted the fiftieth anniversary of two
tions by those deployed to serve. members of the Defence Forces

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