An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir September 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS BY JIM CASEY, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN IUNVA PHOTOS MARTIN ROE O n Monday 28th May, the day after our annual wreath- laying ceremony, a group of IUNVA members, accompa- nied by Sgt Maj John Murray, made their way to Dublin Airport for a flight to Sweden at the invitation of Swedish UN veterans. The group comprised myself, IUNVA National Chair- man, Jim Casey; National Welfare Officer, Mick Thompson; Post 1 President, Michael Colton; Post 1 Chairman, John Egan; Anto Byrne of the IUNVA Pipe Band; museum curator, Ronnie Delaney; Mick Monaghan, John Toomey and Joe O'Brien (Post 1); Des Keegan (Post 5); and Martin Roe (Post 27). On arrival we were met by a number of Swedish Congo vet- erans, including our contact, Per Carlborg. A two-hour bus drive brought us to Enköping Barracks, set in beautiful woodland, where we were to be accommodated. Tuesday 29th May (International Peacekeepers Day), saw us on the road at 0600hrs to attend Sweden's main Veterans Day cer- emony. On arrival we were introduced to Head of Veterans' Affairs for the Swedish Armed Forces, Col Torbiorn Larsson, and Sgt Maj Daniel Nybling. (The Swedish government and army show great respect to their veterans, with a Veterans Affairs Department staffed full-time with a colonel and a sergeant major. The govern- ment allots €500,000 annually to the Swedish veterans organisa- tion and meetings between the latter and the Veterans Affairs Department are held regularly to organise events and finances.) We were seated in the VIP area, along with the King of Sweden, Minister of Defence Carl Peter Hultqvist, and Swedish Armed Forces Supreme Commander, General Micael Bydén, from where we watched the very professional and enjoyable ceremony. Afterwards, I was approached by Minister Hultqvist, who said he would be honoured to meet our party. Everybody fell-in, including Sgt Major Murray, and the minister was introduced to each member of the group, who gave a brief description of their UN tours of duty. Col Larsson then asked if we could wait another 15 minutes before lunch as General Bydén also wished to meet us. On the general's arrival we fell-in again and were introduced to him individually. He then gave a short speech on our excellent role in UN peacekeeping and paid his respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We are sincerely grateful to these gentlemen for taking time out of their busy schedules on the day to speak with us. The next day we set off early for a guided tour of the Vasa Mu- seum in Stockholm. This was followed by a boat trip around the city, which was greatly enjoyed by all. Another early start on Thursday brought us to Kungsängen, home of the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre (Swed- int), where we were welcomed by Col Laura Swaan-wiede. We were briefed on the training of personnel for overseas service that takes place in the centre by Lt Col Gustaf Dufberg, and by Lt Col Arthur Armstrong (retd), formerly of the Irish Defence Forces, who is on the Swedint staff. After lunch we visited a military museum, and then held a wreath-laying ceremony, attended by the Irish ambassador, be- fore travelling to the ambassador's residence, where Ambassador Dympna Hayes talked with us and gave a speech on Ireland's UN activities, past and present. Later, Anto Byrne brought the house down with his pipes. The next morning we were up at 0400hrs in preparation for our journey home. No words can adequately describe our gratitude for the hospi- tality and courtesy shown to us by our hosts. Their organisation was faultless and the standard of catering, accommodation and transportation they provided were second to none. I want to thank the members of our group for their excellent punctuality for all events and for their dress and deportment, which were a credit to them. I must make special mention of our piper, Anto Byrne, our photographer, Martin Roe, and Mick Thompson, for the groundwork. Also to Sgt Major Murray, who was always a great ambassador for the Defence Forces. RSM John Murray hands over IUNVA members on parade. Swedish and Irish UN Veterans together. The President IUNVA Post 1, Michael Colton makes a presentation of an engraved mirror to Col Torbiorn Larsson, Veterans Affairs Department. UNVA members with the Irish Ambassador to Sweden Dympna Hayes. IUNVA VISIT TO SWEDEN

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