An Cosantóir

8 ONE ONE The origins Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE) are indelibly connected with the Defence Forces whose own geneses lie with the foundation of the Irish Volunteers, Óglaigh na hÉireann, in the Rotunda Rink in Dublin in November 1913. The first thirty-eight years of the Defence Forces' existence were marked by the achievement of independence, a divisive Civil War, mobilisation during WW2, and demobilisation of the Forces in the post Emergency period. ONE was formed to address the consequences of that demobilisation in the middle of the twentieth century on the 10th of March 1951 in the Mansion House, and has evolved into a charity that seeks to address the needs of veterans in the twenty-first century. These needs are complex and varied and because we use the collective term veterans, there is a danger that these essential requirements are wrapped up into a nice neat parcel. Generalisation is dangerous because it takes complicated issues and turns them into easy superficial figures of speech. The needs of our veterans, developed from difficult situations and the circumstances in which some veterans now find themselves are both real and challenging. Every one of our veterans, whether Permanent or Reserve, volunteered to join the Defence Forces to defend our country, to protect vulnerable communities at home and overseas, and to support the other institutions of state. History teaches us that defence and security doesn't just happen. It demands people of character and competence. It requires sacrifice, and generations of men and women willing to volunteer to serve their country at home and overseas. A plaque at the Korean War Memorial in Washington has the following inscription "Our nation honours her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met." We could use those same words about the volunteers who served in the Congo, Cyprus, Sinai, Lebanon, Syria, the Mediterranean and the many other missions around the world in which our veterans have served. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the deployment of the Defence Forces to the Congo. A total of about six thousand Irish soldiers served in ONUC (Opération des Nations Unies au Congo) between 1960 and 1964, of whom twenty-six lost their lives. The largest loss of life was in Niemba on 08 November 1960 when nine members of an eleven- man patrol were killed. ONE honours their sacrifice annually and will do so again this year on 07 November 2020 in Cathal Brugha Barracks. We also honour their memory in how we care for our fellow veterans in their time of need. Our Patron, Michael D. Higgins By Colm Campbell Chairperson Board of Directors Tom Gunn of O.N.E.

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