On Thursday, June 21, 2012, the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal was awarded to 19 members of the United States Contingent affected to the United Nations Stabilization Mission for Haiti (MINUSTAH). Of the group of 19 United Nations Police officers (UNPol), three were female. The ceremony took place at the Mission’s Headquarters in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Dignitaries on hand included the representative of the MINUSTAH Force Commander, Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Miller, Police Commissioner Marc Tardif and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) Kevin Kennedy. The 19 officers receiving medals are part of the 95-member strong contingent of UNPol and Corrections personnel, which has been serving in Haiti since the deployment of the Mission in 2004.

In his remarks, Commissioner Tardif paid tribute to the activities of the United States Contingent as they carried out their day-to-day policing tasks as well as taking part in special activities such as food distributions and the provision of site security at camps hosting earthquake victims. For his part, DSRSG Kennedy paid tribute to their leadership in MINUSTAH and noted the sacrifices of all UNPols and United Nations Peacekeepers who have given their lives in the pursuit of peace.

Billy Young