Submitted by: Shelly Claus, MNO Veterans’ Council Women’s Representative

Veterans' Council_United Nations Peacekeeping Day
Participants at the United Nations National Peacekeepers’
Day flag raising. (L-R) Parade Marshall Fern Taillefer;
Shelly Claus, MNO Veterans’ Council Women’s
Representative; Base Commander Col. Leam McGarey;
UN veteran Joe Claus; Brigadier General Hayter; and,
BCWO Charette. Click here to view a larger version.

This summer, Métis Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) Veterans’ Council Women’s Representative Shelly Claus attended celebrations for United Nations (UN) National Peacekeepers Day at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden.

National Peacekeeper’s Day is an official remembrance day for Canadian veterans of military peacekeeping activities. It is officially marked on August 9 every year and alternately may be observed on the closest Sunday to August 9. The date was chosen to commemorate August 9, 1974, when nine Canadian Peacekeepers serving on the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) II were killed when their aircraft was shot down over Syria. This tragedy marked the highest number of Canadian Peacekeepers ever killed in a single incident.

The Métis UN veterans were recognized by Parade Organizer Fern Taillefer. Claus was honoured to carry her eagle staff and to march with her husband and fellow Peacekeepers.

Published on: September 2, 2016