THE religious and the secular, the military and the civilian mixed at the annual wreath saying ceremonies of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women in Arbour Hill, Dublin, yesterday.
The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Gerard McMahon, and the Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brig Gen Pat Cranfield, were joined by the new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Brendan Lynch, and his wife, Peggy, as the national ex-servicemen marched to the Church of the Sacred Heart for Mass.
Wives and children were also present for the service, celebrated by Father Dan O'Callaghan, chaplain of the Air Corps.
Mixed concerns were shown in the prayers as the general secretary of the organisation, Mr Paddy Hayes, prayed not only for all deceased members of the security forces and the organisation of ex-servicemen and women, but for "all those who died on our behalf in pursuit of their vocation Veronica Guerin and Garda Jerry McCabe."
The colour party, bearing the flags of Ireland, the UN and the four provinces marched out after the consecration.
After Mass, the organisation paraded to the memorial plot in Arbour Hill cemetery, where the national president, Mr Peter Keenan, laid a wreath. The Proclamation was read by Mr Gerard Fogarty, the treasurer, before the Last Post was sounded.