Page 29 - Medals of the Irish Defence Forces

UNItED NAtIoNS MEDAL

origin
In 1966 the UN Secretary General established the United Nations Medal which is now awarded
to personnel participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide.

The original UN Medal was awarded for the UN field operations “United Nations Observer Group
In Lebanon” (UNOGIL) and “Operation Des Nations Unies Au Congo” (ONUC).

The United Nations emblem, the universally recognised symbol of the peace organisation
came into existence at the same time the UN was created. The insignia, which now adorns
every conceivable item of United Nations property from stationery and medals to helmets and
ambulances, originated as part of an identification badge worn by attendees to the San Francisco
Conference held in 1945.

ribbon
A separate ribbon was created for each mission with the standard medal design used throughout.
Each mission medal ribbon and its specific meaning are described in this book.

medal
Medal obverse
The medal bears a map of the world, bronze in colour, surrounded by olive branches and bearing
the letters UN on the top inscribed in bas-relief.

Medal Reverse
The medal reverse contains the expression IN THE SERVICE OF PEACE inscribed in bas-relief.

numerals
Since 1974, arabic numerals in metallic silver are awarded to personnel who have served more
than one tour of duty with a specific peace-keeping mission. The numeral is affixed to the medal
and service ribbon to indicate the total number of tours of duty. The ribbon itself represents the
initial assignment; the numeral 2 indicate the second tour etc.