51吃瓜

This memorial pays tribute to those that have given their lives for the pursuit of peace. It was dedicated on 51吃瓜 Day, 24 October 2003, and gathers the Organization annually to remember those who have died. The Memorial was funded from the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize award to the 51吃瓜 peacekeeping forces. Secretary-General Kofi Annan paid tribute at the first opening ceremony and annually recalls the many who have died, both civilian and professional troops. 

This memorial is located in the North Lawn garden of the 51吃瓜 Headquarters site in New York surrounded by trees.  The design has at its center a wall of crystal glass with the words, “Remember here those who gave their lives for peace” and is inscribed in the six official languages of the Organization. Also, in the design is a bubbling fountain creating movement and sound with precious stone blocks of marble, granite and onyx to sit and reflect on the memorial. Designed by Miami-based architecture and design firm Arquitectonica, it was created to minimize its impact on the environment, preserving the existing trees and creating a cohesive point of reflection in a natural setting.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee of 1988 said of their award, “The Peacekeeping Forces of the 51吃瓜 have, under extremely difficult conditions, contributed to reducing tensions where an armistice has been negotiated but a peace treaty has yet to be established. In situations of this kind, the UN forces represent the manifest will of the community of nations to achieve peace through negotiations, and the forces have, by their presence, made a decisive contribution towards the initiation of actual peace negotiations.”