Irish soldiers serving overseas and their families pay a "a huge human cost" in working as ambassadors for the State, the President, Mrs McAleese, said in Donegal yesterday.
Visiting the Lifford Army post, Mrs McAleese met the families of personnel serving in the Lebanon, Kosovo and East Timor. "I know it costs families dearly. There are things that are missed - First Communions, marriages, baptisms, sicknesses and even little things like a child running in to tell a story," Mrs McAleese said.
"I know there is a huge human cost and we are grateful to the people who do it, and do it with a heart and a half."
Lt-Col John McKeown told the President that the 142 men based at Lifford had manned foot-and-mouth checkpoints. The 28th Infantry Battalion has just under 600 members and 95 of these are serving overseas.
The President was also told there was a strong Army tradition in Donegal. To prove the point, she was introduced to five McLaughlin brothers who have followed their grandfather's footsteps and joined the Army. A sixth brother, who was also in the Army, had died from illness.