By Richard Lawrence
To see all the pictures from this event, go to:
https://www.richardlawrencephotography.ca/rlpgalleries/2022/unday2022/
On August 9th, 1974, a United Nations Buffalo aircraft flying over Egypt was shot out of the sky by a Syrian missile. On that plane were nine Canadian Armed Forces personnel involved in a peacekeeping mission who were killed on what was supposed to be a routine resupply mission to the presence in the Golan Heights. To this day, it is still the largest single loss of Canadian lives since Canada began participating in UN Peacekeeping missions in 1948. That is why the closest Sunday to the 9th August is selected as United Nations Peacekeepers Day every year with this year’s remembrance ceremony being held at the Reconciliation Monument, Ottawa, on Sunday the 6th of in what started to be the hottest day of the year. Bright sun, high humidity, and people dressed in wool uniforms – what could go wrong?
This year, besides commemorating the fallen members of the CAF, RCMP, and other police forces and civilians, also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Multi-National Force Observers in the Sinai Desert, the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the Reconciliation Monument, and the 30th anniversary of the initial deployment of U.N. troops to Sarajevo (UNPROFOR) which, at its peak, had 3200 Canadian troops and police involved.
The ceremony started this year by recognizing the Indigenous land on which the monument stands. To that end an Indigenous drum circle performed three sets of drumming/singing looked over by the three U.N. members of the Reconciliation Monument and beneath the UN flag.
The reviewing officer for the UN Veterans, CAF members, and Police contingent members was LGen. Jennie Carignan, currently Chief Professional Conduct and Culture. She quickly took the salute from the parade commander than then moved to review the troops on parade, stopping to talk to several of them about their service.
This ceremony does not place wreaths in front of the monument but instead places bouquets of flowers into repurposed cannon barrels set in a block and aimed skywards. The first to do so were MP Mona Fortier, representing the Government of Canada, and LGen. Carignan. The second bouquet was placed by LGen. Carignan, representing fallen CAF members, and RCMP A/Commr Chester Parsons, representing the RCMP and police forces. The final bouquet was placed by Ms. Heather Church, her daughter Kayna, and LCol (ret’d) Nishka Jardine (Veterans Ombudsman) representing veterans families and the Canadian fallen.
Remarks were made by MP Mona Fortier, who praised the UN members and review some of its history. LGen. Carignan followed with her remarks but decided to abbreviate them due to the heat and also asked the parade to “shake it out … move your feet” because they had been standing so long in the sun. At this point, it had still been hot, sunny and humid but it was starting to cloud over. Still about ten minutes to go before parade dismissal.
After her remarks, she turned the parade back over to the parade commander and the official party left the parade. As soon as they were off the square, the skies opened up and it turned into a torrential rain. Although the parade was shortly dismissed, all members on parade and those guests in the audience were soaked.
Unusually for this ceremony, there was no lingering afterwards for pictures in front of the monument (again still pouring rain) and those who were invited retired to the Earl of Sussex Pub for the reception and everyone else ran for cars.
