An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY ARMN SEAN FOLEY, 105 SQN FALLEN IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE: IUNVA'S ANNUAL WREATH LAYING CEREMONY O n Sunday 26th May 2019, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association held their Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony in the UN Memorial Garden in Arbour House, Dublin 7. The annual ceremony is held in honour of the members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and civilian personnel who paid the ultimate sacri- fice for world peace. In total, 95 Irish personnel died on UN Peacekeeping missions around the world since 1958, 87 of them were members of the Defence Forces. Coun- tries included Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon, The Middle East, Somalia, Bosnia I Herzegovina, East Timor, Liberia, Haiti and Europe. The ceremony held in the well-kept and picturesque UN Memorial Garden, began at midday, retired Defence Forces Sgt Major Mick Dillion took the parade, with retired Comdt George Kirwin, IUNVA Press Officer on the microphone as the days MC. IUNVA's National Chairman Jim Casey acknowledged and thanked the Defence Forces Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, the Secretary General of the Dept of Defence, An Garda Síochána, the Office of Public Works, the Civil Defence for their continued support and contribu- tion to IUNVA. The IUNVA Pipe Band started the ceremony and played music through- out. The Roll of Honour was called out and followed by the wreath lay- ing. Members of the Defence Forces representing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service laid wreaths along with family and friends of the fallen – "Your names are etched into the pages of history, and more importantly into our hearts. We salute you today and always," was softly spoken over the speakers. As is always mentioned at these solemn occasions "we will always remember them." This year marked the 50th Anniver- sary of Tpr Michael Kennedy, 1 ACS who died while on service in Cyprus with the 12 Inf Gp, UNFICYP on 1st July 1969. There was a special mention of Clareman Michael Ryan, who died in an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash in March of this year. Michael was the Deputy Chief Engineer with the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) and was living in the WFP's Rome headquarters. A minute's silence was followed by the playing of the Pipers Lament, Last Post, with the National Flag raised to the top, and then Reveille and the National Anthem – this concluded the Wreath Laying Ceremony for 2019. Guests then proceeded into the IUNVA House and gardens for light refresh- ments, and stories and memories were regaled from peacekeeping missions from many a veteran's memory. In the words Dag Hammarskjöld, UN General Secretary 1953-1961 (RIP): "Do not look back and do not dream about the future either. It will neither give you back the past nor satisfy your day-dreams. Your duty, your reward, your destiny …here and now." IUNVA Pipe Band let by Anto Byrne. IUNVA's National Chairman Jim Casey and Vice President William Gilbert. Serving members who laid wreaths on behalf of the Defence Forces. IUNVA's memorial to our fallen comrades. Ronnie Daly hands IUNVA Vice President William Gilbert a wreath.

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