Lebanese Medal of Military Merit Questions on Issue.

[Connaught Ranger]

Ok, this was the nearest category I could find that might be appropriate for this topic.


Lebanese Military Merit Medal. III Class.

I Class & II Class as far as I know have never been awarded to any Lebanese Military Officer,

and its quite possible II Class has not been officially issued either, but, I am looking for documented concrete clarification on that.

The above item can be seen sported on the jackets of many U.N.I.F.I.L. Veterans,
however, there is some controversy to it, namely that from circa 1997 up to at least
2006 it was being sold to U.N.I.F.I.L. members via U.N. Veterans Associations or via
a Lebanese Medal dealer on the Internet with the blurb:-

Lebanese Commemorative Medal for U.N. Services to Lebanon" it also stated "officially awarded by the
Lebanese Government to U.N.I.F.I.L. Veterans, or the Families of U.N.I.F.I.L. Veterans
who died on Service with U.N.I.F.I.L. South Lebanon, as token of gratitude . . .
Send payment etc..etc.. as part of the payment is being donated to help wounded Lebanese soldiers & their Families, or the families of Lebanese soldiers killed while in service."

Back in 1998 I actually obtained one as a U.N.I.F.I.L. Veteran, my personnel opinion is, it falls into the
unofficial "bling - bling" category seeing it had to be paid for.

I have since had correspondence with an ex-Irish military service person who says that in 1995
he and 30 other Irish U.N.I.F.I.L. veterans were awarded the medal (free of cost) via the Lord Mayor of Dublin, at a ceremony, in lieu of the Lebanese Ambassador (who had to return to Lebanon following the death of the Lebanese Prime Minister killed in a car bomb attack.)

Do any of our Lebanese members have any information with regards this medal being officially granted to U.N.I.F.I.L. members, any reference to such being discussed and permission granted via the Lebanese Government.

Can anybody tell me the name of the Lebanese Ambassador to Ireland prior to the attack?

Any info with regards this matter, would be greatly appreciated.

Connaught Ranger,

[Connaught Ranger]

Additional:-

"The Irish defence Forces dedicated 23 years of Peacekeeping in Lebanon and have made friends among the local population and earned the respect of all UNIFIL contributing nations and the Lebanese Army..
General Michel Sleiman ,chief Commander of the Lebanese Army awarded the veterans with a medal as a token of appreciation.
The recipients had filled in applications through their Veteran Branches.

The Irish defence Forces dedicated 23 years of Peacekeeping in Lebanon and have made friends among the local population and earned the respect of all UNIFIL contributing nations and the Lebanese Army..
General Michel Sleiman ,chief Commander of the Lebanese Army awarded the veterans with a medal as a token of appreciation.

The recipients had filled in applications through their Veteran Branches.









On Sept 13,08 a seminar and a medal parade took place at Arbour Hill in Dublin a celebration of 50 years of Irish UN missions."


Connaught Ranger.

[timetraveller]

http://lebaneseembassyuk.org/contact-us/


Could not find any contact info for the Lebanon Embassy in Ireland or the name of the Person your seeking to know , The link I found could be your best bet to seek the info you desire .

[masss11]

HI
i think this is not a real medal, first time ever seen and possibly just a token medal sold to those interested...
surely nothing is donated from its sale..