Terrorist murders in Tyrone ‘will not be forgotten’, pledges Deputy Grand Master
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
It was a great day for a picnic!
THE MURDER of Protestants, Orangemen and those serving the Crown by republicans during the Troubles must not be forgotten, a leading Orangeman has told the gathering at the Twelfth in Ballygawley.
In his speech in the Demonstration Field, the Deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order, Wor Bro Edward Stevenson, pledged the sacrifice of all such good people would be remembered by the Institution.
Stated Wor Bro Stevenson: "The Twelfth is a very special day in the culture of Northern Ireland and I am delighted to be with you here in Ballygawley, in my home county of Tyrone.
“It is also a day when we commemorate the Battle of the Boyne, fought all those years ago along a riverbank now in the Irish Republic, near Drogheda and we give thanks for the civil and religious liberty we still have today as a result of that victory."
He continued: "We give thanks for our forefathers and for the stand they took; especially today we remember the work of John Knox the great Scottish reformer in this 450th Anniversary year of the Reformation in Scotland.
“Another group we need to remember are those who lost their lives either while serving the Crown or because terrorists chose to attack and murder them for being Protestants..and in many occasions for being Orangemen.
“It is a subject I have spoken on before and I make no apology for returning to it once again. We cannot allow the truth about what happened to be distorted. We must continue to ensure that truth is not lost in the legacy of the Troubles."
Continued the Guest Speaker: "In County Tyrone we need no reminder of the ethnic cleansing which took place in Northern Ireland, particularly along the border in areas like where we stand today. The IRA killed 75 Orangemen in Tyrone and across this Province more than 300 Orangemen were murdered by republicans.
“Many of you standing around this platform today in Ballygawley will have personal experience of those terrible times. You will have lost loved ones and dear friends and some of you may still carry the mental and physical scars of the onslaught from the IRA.
“I know very well this was an area where many people suffered at the hands of republican violence. I give you my sympathy and I also pledge that the sacrifice of all those good people - many of them your friends and relatives - will not be forgotten by the Institution of which I am proud to be a member.
“I can assure you that the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland will be playing its part in respecting the memory of its members who were so brutally cut down. We must ensure that society stands up strongly on behalf of the victims and their families and we must not accept any attempt to treat the perpetrators in the same way as their victims.
“As we move into a new decade, we must not forget what happened over the past 40 years. I will continue to honour and respect the memory of the victims of IRA violence. I ask every one of you around this platform in Ballygawley this afternoon to do likewise."
Orange brethren and bands proudly stepped out in the town of Ballygawley for the Clogher Valley celebrations.
Taking part in the Twelfth celebrations were no less than 22 lodges and bands from two Districts - Annahoe and Fivemiletown.
The parade began on the Old Omagh Road and made its way though the village, down the Main street, to the roundabout and then to the Demonstration Field on the Aughnacloy Road.
The Platform Proceedings in "The Field" took the form of a religious service, which was conducted by the Rev Raymond Robinson.
After the platform proceedings, Roughan Silver Band and Glenageeragh Pipe band led a short open-air concert, accompanied by other bands, before the return parade.
It is five years since the last Twelfth was held in Ballygawley and all present agreed it was another memorable Twelfth in the town.
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