An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS ARMN SEAN FOLEY, 105 SQN V E T E R A N S D A Y 2 0 1 9 O n Saturday 11th May 2019 the sixth Defence Forces Vet- erans Day to recognise, honour, and commemorate our former servicemen and women, and their families took place at the National Museum of Ireland in Collins Bks, Dublin 7. The ceremony was officiated by the Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr Paul Kehoe TD, along with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM. The annual Veterans Day event is to especially remember all members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who have paid the ultimate sac- rifice while serving at home or overseas with a ceremonial wreath laying commemoration led by Minister Kehoe and the Veteran Associations. Wreaths were laid by Minister Paul Kehoe and the COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM and representing the three Veterans Associations: Brig Gen Paul Pakenham (Ret'd) President of the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO), Jim Casey National Chairman of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) and Jim Fay who is the President-in-Waiting representing the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE). The afternoon was started with a recital by IUNVA Pipe Band before the ministerial review of Veterans on parade and then minister's address, the offering of prayers and the wreath laying ceremony and a Defence Forces military equipment display. The Parade Commander was Lt Col Raymond Kane, OC 2 Arty Regt, and the Parade Sgt Major was BSM Graham Nuttall, 6 Inf Bn. The Honour Guard was from drawn from 6 Inf Bn and led by Lt Michael Crawley and assisted by Sgt Pryce. The main parade body was drawn from units in 1 Bde, 2 Bde, DFTC, Air Corps and Naval Service. The Army No 1 Band was conducted by Capt John Carpenter after a One Minute of Silence tunes included the Piper's Lament, Last Post, Reveille and the National Anthem. The National Flag was raised to Full-Mast by Capt Aislinn Kelleher, 6 Inf Bn and the Master of Ceremonies was Lt Alan Rigney, 6 Inf Bn. In recognising the service to the State, Minister Kehoe said, "I ex- tend a very special welcome to former servicemen and women of the Defence Forces. Today is your day – a day in which the Defence Forces acknowledges your service both at home and around the world. Many retired members of the Defence Forces have served on UN peacekeeping missions all over the world. UN peacekeeping contin- ues to be one of the most flexible and effective tools available to the international community in responding to crises around the world. It plays an essential role in stabilising regions affected by conflict and in saving lives. Since 1958, not a day has passed when the Irish Defence Forces have not been deployed under the UN blue hat, in conflict zones across the globe." Minister Kehoe went on to acknowledge, "the commitment, dedi- cation and service by members of the Defence Forces while on over- seas service has contributed to the excellent reputation that Ireland and the Defence Forces enjoy." He also commended members of the Defence Forces, whether serving or retired, for that commitment and thanked them, their families and loved ones for the inevitable sacrifices that this has involved. Minister Kehoe concluded by remembering, "the military person- nel who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace. Some of you here today will remember lost friends and comrades. We will not forget those who have died while on active service overseas nor those who have died while on service in Ireland." Later that day COS Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM quoted Ameri- can author and politician Zell Miller - "It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech". The COS said he was, "Proud to be on parade with just some of our veteran soldiers, sailors and aircrew - men and women who gave decades of service at home and abroad in some of the most challenging environments in the world."

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