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The memory of over 300 members of the Orange Order who were
murdered during the Troubles is to be commemorated at Orange
headquarters by a stained glass window.
The plan was unveiled at the launch of a fund-raising initiative
to honour those from the Institution who lost their lives
as a result of terrorist activity.
The Order hopes to raise £20,000 in the coming months,
and badges have been circulated to County Lodges for distribution.
At £2.50 each, they will be a small individual price
to pay to honour those who paid so greatly for their loyalty
over the Troubles.
The appeal, which has got off to an impressive start, is
centred on a poignant design of a white cross and Orange lily
badge.
"When the Troubles began we encouraged our members right
across Northern Ireland to join the security forces and serve
their community at a time of great danger. The response from
Orangemen was very strong but unfortunately many of them suffered
death and injury as a result," Grand Master Robert Saulters
outlined at the launch of the Murdered Brethren Memorial Fund.
"The victims were not all in the security forces however.
Many were murdered simply because they were members of the
Orange Order.
"In the case of the Tullyvallen Orange Hall massacre
in 1975, the IRA burst into a lodge meeting and murdered five
defenceless Orangemen.
"The Order also lost members in other atrocities at
Omagh, Kingsmills, Enniskillen and on Bloody Friday. Virtually
all the population in Northern Ireland were directly or indirectly
affected by the Troubles and many tens of thousands of people
lost close friends and relatives.
"Orangemen have served this country with honour and
great bravery and many paid the ultimate sacrifice as a result.
We must not forget the important role they played in protecting
our community from terrorism," he said.
The Grand Master paid tribute to the Committee under the
direction of Drew Davison and administered by David Scott,
which has brought the memorial plans to the fore.
And Grand Secretary, Drew Nelson, told the launch that he
hoped there would be a memorial in place for November 2008.
He said the role of Orangemen serving the community during
the Troubles must never be forgotten or airbrushed out of
history.
"Orangemen answered the call to serve their country
in incredibly difficult and dangerous situations. Members
of the Ulster Defence Regiment, the regular Army, the Territorial
Army, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Reserve, the Prison Service, the Civilian Search Unit and
all other Crown forces often lived in isolated areas where
they were under a constant threat of attack. The circumstances
also placed their families under incredible pressure.
"We are determined that their sacrifice will not be
forgotten.
"Our initial research shows that in Tyrone 90% of the
murders of Orangemen remain unsolved. It is something we would
like the Historic Enquiries Team of the PSNI to investigate.
"All of our members who served in Her Majesty's Forces
played a significant part in defeating the Provisional IRA's
sustained attempt to detach Northern Ireland from the rest
of the United Kingdom.
"We owe a special debt to those who gave their lives,
their families and those who still carry the burden of physical
and mental injuries.
"The memorial which we are planning will honour their
sacrifice and preserve their memories for generations to come.
"We are consulting with the families on the best way
of marking their contribution. This badge, the stained glass
window and the book of remembrance will be very visual ways
of remembering. We are looking at the possibility of other
memorials which will include the names of all of our members
who were murdered."
The badges are available at the headquarters of the Orange
Order, from County Secretaries or by responding to the advert
in The Orange Standard. Badges cost £2.50, cufflinks
cost £7.50 and the Tie Pins cost £4.50.
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