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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.
_______________________
MARY McALEESE
PRESIDENT
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