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It gives me great pleasure to send warm greetings to the
members of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association on the
occasion of your Medal Parade in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. I was
delighted to receive a silver replica of the medal which will be
presented to you here today, and enjoyed the opportunity to meet with
all of you at Áras an Uachtaráin recently.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, it has been my
privilege to honour our Irish troops and Gardai at home and abroad,
serving and retired, on a number of occasions such as this, during my
Presidency. I have witnessed the professionalism and respect in the
manner in which they have worked to improve the lives of civilians in war-torn
areas around the world. All of you here today have made your own
personal contribution to peacekeeping missions with the UN over the
past 44 years of Ireland's membership. You may be justifiably proud
to be part of the achievements of the Irish contribution and I
commend you for your dedication to continuing to support veterans and
their families; particularly those who have lost loved ones in the
service of their country.
I wish you well as you continue to work in the name of peace,
and I hope that today's parade will be both enjoyable and memorable
for you and your families.
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MARY McALEESE
PRESIDENT
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