An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 | REPoRt AND PHotoS by SGT WAyNE FITzGERALD "Our fallen heroes came from different countries and performed different jobs. They served as soldiers and police officers, and as national and international civilian staff. But they shared a common purpose, and an uncommon courage...UN peacekeeping is one of the international community's most effective investments to support peace, security and prosperity. While peacekeeping carries a tragically high price in lives lost, it brings enormous returns in lives saved." - UN Secretary General António Guterres, at a recent ceremony to honour the 117 UN peacekeepers who lost their lives last year. O n Sunday 28th May 2017 the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) held its annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arbour House, Dublin. the ceremony is held in memory of the members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and Irish civilians who have died on UN peacekeep- ing missions throughout the world since 1960. In particular, this year's ceremony commemorated the 25th anniversaries of the deaths of Cpl Peter Ward (71 Inf Bn, UNIFIL) and Cpl Martin Tynan (72 Inf Bn, UNIFIL), and the 50th an- niversary of Comdt Thomas Wickham (UNTSO). Families of the deceased were present, along with members of the General Staff, representatives of An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service, Civil Defence, other veterans associations, and members of the public, to honour Ire- land's fallen peacekeepers. Asst Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy, who served with the UN in Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the West Bank and Lebanon, was guest speaker. Fr Séamus Madigan (Head Chaplain to the Defence Forces) and Rev Fran Grasham (Church of Ireland Chap- lain to the Defence Forces) conducted prayers. They were followed by author and poet Cpl Michael Whelan who read his poem Fallen Friends, written in memory of peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice. A number of UN veterans read out the roll of Ireland's 94 fallen peacekeepers, 87 of them members of the De- fence Forces, before a large number of wreaths were laid by dignitaries, families, and representatives of military associations, including IUNVA, ONE, the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Force Associa- tion, and military attachés from the USA and the UK. The honour of laying a wreath from the Defence Forces was given to Pte Graham Coyne (7 Inf Bn), Armn Dillon Lacey-Byrne (CIS Sqn), and L/Sea Erin Killeen (NSR). In 1988, Chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee Egil Aarvik, when presenting the prize for the achievements of UN peacekeeping forces to then UN Secretary General Pérez de Cuéllar, said: "This year's Peace Prize is a recognition of and homage to one organ of the United Nations. But it ought to be understood as a serious comment on the fact that we must, united and with our whole hearts, invest in the United Nations. It becomes clearer and clearer that what has to be done to secure the future for new generations has to be done together. Our determination has to be channelled into the United Nations. This is the best hope for the future of the world - indeed its only hope!" In this regard it is imperative that we remember our fallen brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace. 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are the sons of God.' Matthew 5:9

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