CCOPAB carries out ceremony to celebrate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

Written by Webmaster on 27 May 2022.

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) – On 26 May, the Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Center (CCOPAB, acronym in Portuguese) carried out a ceremony to celebrate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which is to take place on 29 May. This date was established by the United Nations (UN) to recognise the professionalism, dedication and courage of men and women who have served and continue to serve in peacekeeping operations.

Initially, a flower wreath was laid at the Haiti Memorial, in honor of the Brazilian military, police and civilian personnel who lost their lives in Peacekeeping Operations. In sequence, when taps were played, the military and police personnel at the ceremony respectfully saluted the heroes who have fallen at the service of the United Nations.

After that, a parade, presided over by General Flavio Marcus Lancia Barbosa, Head of the Army Department of Education and Culture (DECEx, acronym in Portuguese), was held. The authority addressed the military formation and emphasized the history of the Brazilian participation in peacekeeping operations and the importance for Brazil of engaging in operations of this nature. At the end of the ceremony, veteran peacekeepers from different missions paraded along with CCOPAB troops.

In addition to the Head of DECEx, the event was honored by the presence of Lieutenant General Kleber Nunes de Vasconcellos, Commander of the 1st Army Division; Ambassador Márcia Maro da Silva, Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rio de Janeiro, and Major General Alexandre Oliveira Cantanhede Lago, Director of Military Technical Education. Besides, the event was attended by other general officers of the garrison of Rio de Janeiro and distinguished guests. Dr. Eduarda Hamman, General Coordinator of the Brazilian Peace Operations Research Network (REBRAPAZ, acronym in Portuguese) as well as university professors and researchers were also present at the event.

Translation: 1LT Vianna (Military Student – ESFCEx).