OTTAWA,
ON, Aug. 9, 2024 /CNW/ - On National
Peacekeepers' Day, we pause to recognize the remarkable
contributions of Canadian military members, police officers,
diplomats, and civilians who have dedicated themselves to
peacekeeping missions around the world. We acknowledge the
sacrifices made by these individuals and their families in the
pursuit of global peace and security.
Over the decades, more than 125,000 members of the Canadian
Armed Forces and over 4,500 police officers from the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police and other police agencies across the country have
played essential roles in international peacekeeping efforts. They
brought Canadian expertise to help manage some of the world's most
complex conflicts. Tragically, some 130 of these brave women and
men lost their lives in the line of duty, and many more returned
home with enduring physical and psychological wounds.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of a somber chapter
in Canadian peacekeeping history. On this day in 1974, a Canadian
Armed Forces Buffalo aircraft on a routine supply flight for the
United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights was
shot down over Syria. This
incident remains the deadliest single-day loss in Canadian
peacekeeping history, with nine Canadian Armed Forces peacekeepers
losing their lives. Since 2008, Canada has observed National Peacekeepers' Day
on August 9 to honour the memory of
those who perished that day, as well as all those who served in
various peacekeeping missions around the world.
The legacy of Canadian peacekeepers is one of unwavering
compassion and courage, as they have helped restore peace and
security to regions devastated by conflict.
Lest we forget.
Associated links:
Remembering the "Buffalo Nine"
Canada and international
peacekeeping
SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada - Ottawa