Parade to be held at the Diamond

The Londonderry man responsible for the commemoration and for setting up the International School for Peace Studies in Belgium, Glen Barr said: "It is all very fine parading and socialising in Belgium and France but it is on the streets of the towns and cities of this island that we must display our appreciation for those who fought and died together in foreign battlefields and through their sacrifice learn to co-exist on this island."

For years, during events in Messines – where the International School for Peace Studies is based – the Irish flag has flown alongside the United Kingdom flag and the banners of other nations, who fought in WWI. The Battle of Messines is central to the ethos of the ISPS, because nationalists of the 16th Irish Division and unionist of the 36th Ulster Division fought side by side.

In an invitational letter Mr Barr states: "To this end, in 2009 ISPS organised a Commemoration Parade on 7th June in Londonderry-Derry. Indeed Londonderry-Derry will remain host of the event for 2010 over the weekend of Friday 4th – 6th June. The Burgomester, Chief Executive and four representatives from the Belgian city of Messines have accepted an invitation to attend the weekend of events, which will include a programme on the Friday evening, when the Waterside Theatre will show the play 'We Were Brothers' especially written about the Battle of Messines. (Now nominated for a highly prestigious Meyer Whitworth award).

"On Sunday 6th June there will be a short parade from London Street to the Cenotaph at the Diamond where young people from several of our local schools will perform various pieces in memory of 'The Fallen'.

"As is our custom in Messines an official Colour Party of the flags representing those nationalities that were engaged in the preparation and battle of Mesen/Messines will be carried at the Cenotaph. The flags are the Australian, Belgium, Canadian, German, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

"Whilst historians will argue that there was no Irish Tricolour at the time of the battle we at the I.S.P.S. believe that it is in the spirit of brotherhood and recognition of Irish Nationalists who died alongside their colleagues of the 36th Ulster Division that the flag they would have regarded as their national flag should be carried in their memory."

Invitations are being extended to MPs, MLAs, TD's, Political Parties, Councils, Military Associations, International representatives including Embassies, Consuls, and the general public.

"It is hoped that as many as possible will help us remember those who fought and died in Flanders so that their souls which have haunted those foreign battlefields for the past 90 years can rest in peace," writes Mr Barr.