An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/593178
www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 IUNVA POST 27 Deceased Members Mass & COL JAMES FITZMAURICE Remembered by SGT KARL ByRNE PhoToS by ARWN LAURA MCHALE M ore often or not an average Sunday is passed off as a day of rest. Not very often would it be thought of as a time to remember the fallen soldiers of the Defence Forces and members of IUNVA Post 27. on 27th September 2015 such a day arose, and the members of Post 27 were on call to hon- our those who had lost their lives as serving members or retired members of the DF. After a special mass was held in Portlaoise at which the members of Post 27, GOC Air Corps Brig Gen, Paul Fry, and members of the Air Corps at- tended. After the mass Post 27 marched down to the UN me- morial in the Peace Park were a wreath laying service took place. Twelve wreaths were laid in honour of deceased members of Post 27, deceased members of the DF, deceased members of An Garda Siochána and as a very nice tribute, one for the deceased members of the Royal British Legion. From there, the spectators were invited up to Fitzmaurice Place just 100 meters from the UN memorial, where a ceremony was held in hon- our of the 50th anniversary of the death of Col James Fitzmaurice, from the Air Corps, who was a member of the famous 'Bremen' flight crew, which made the first successful East to West flight over the Atlantic. The members of IUNVA Post 27 marched up to the location and took position at the back of the monument after a 20-man honour guard from the Air Corp formed a semi circle around the front of the monument. Councillor Jerry Lodge addressed the parade, thanking the members of IUNVA for their great work in helping to restore the monument and surrounding area. IUNVA member Archie Raeside, Brig Gen Paul Fry and Councillor Jerry Lodge then laid wreaths at the monument. Brig Gen Fry then addressed the parade in which he commended the career of Col James Fitzmaurice. The event then concluded with the sounding of the Last Post, Reveille and the National Anthem. Events like these really bring home the sacrifice that members of the DF have suffered over the years of its existence. IUNVA Post 27 have excelled themselves in showing that these sacrifices won't go un-noticed and that its own members, DF members and other services will forever be remembered with their annual remembrance mass.