National Peacekeepers' Day (French: Journée Nationale des Casques Bleus) is an official remembrance day for Canadian veterans of military peacekeeping activities. It is officially marked on 9 August of each year and alternately may be observed on the closest Sunday.
The date was chosen to commemorate 9 August 1974, when nine Canadian peacekeepers serving on UNEF II were killed when their aircraft was shot down over Syria, the highest number of Canadian peacekeepers killed in a single incident.
While British Columbia Order in Council 856 first set August 9 as Peacekeepers memorial day on June 30, 1993, Federal legislation to make the day an official national day in Canada was passed in June 2008.
See also
References
- Statement on Stephen Harper's Official website as Prime Minister
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Leung T Peacekeepers' Day salutes soldiers' ultimate sacrifice, Calgary Herald, 11 August 2008
- Fitzpatrick A Campaign to bring more attention to peacekeeping veterans, The Western Star, 8 August 2008
| Canadian peacekeeping | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Commemoration | |
| Related topics | |
 | This article about an organization in Canada is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |