**** RCMP Media Release
Officially established in 2008, the National Peacekeepers’ Day date was chosen to commemorate the events of August 9, 1974, when nine Canadian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt and Israel lost their lives when their plane was shot down over Syria.
Every year, police, veterans and military personnel who have served in various peace support efforts gather at events across the country on the Sunday closest to August 9 to honour their comrades.
These Ceremonies of Remembrance serve as a way to commemorate past and present peacekeepers and pause to honour the memory of those peacekeepers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace. The RCMP lost two members during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, C/Supt. Doug Coates and Sgt. Mark Gallagher.
Their bravery continues to be reflected in the selfless work of peacekeepers around the world.
