The May 25 event included a parade by Heads of Missions and military representatives of UN member countries, climaxed by the laying of wreaths at the Glorious Dead Monument in London close to the venue of the first meeting of the UN General Assembly in 1946.

According to a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in London, last Wednesday’s service of remembrance at the Whitehall was organized by the U.N. Association of the United Kingdom, in commemoration of the International Day of Peacekeeping, under the U.N flag.

The Charge d’ Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Liberia accredited to the Court of Saint James, Ms. Genevieve A. Kennedy, who performed the wreath-laying at the Glorious Dead Monument on behalf of Liberia, recounted the heroic contributions of UN Peacekeepers in planting the seeds of peace and democratic transformation, that continue to produce useful fruits across every sphere of the Liberian society.

Liberia, considered a post-conflict success story under the stewardship of President Ellen Johnson Sirelaf, has moved to reclaim its place within the comity of nations with a fledging democratic environment that has conducted two successful elections, extended the reach of infrastructural development, while consolidating its contribution to global peace, with a contingent of the restructured Armed Forces of Liberia posted to Mali under the U.N flag.

In remarks, the Chair of the United Nations Association in the United Kingdom, David Wardrop, reflected on UN Peacekeepers and their selfless contributions towards global peace.

“Let us remember those who have laid down their lives in lands far from their own in the service of peace. They came from 123 countries.
“They are mourned in 194. They chose to serve their country. Their country chose them to serve the world, to serve us,” he said.
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The dispatch from London indicated that the ceremony also honored the dedication of 120,000 uniformed and civilian personnel serving under the United Nations flag.

The ceremony was an ideal platform for Liberia to pay tribute to the role of UN Peacekeepers, for securing the environment for peace and democratic governance; as Liberia and the United Nations coordinate the conclusion of a successful presence in the country.
LINA PR/TSS/PTK