CA Lt-Gen Peter Cosgrove and Governor General Peter Hollingworth, reflect on the sacrifices made by UN personnel over the past 50 years at a UN Day service in Canberra. Photo by Cpl Wade Laube.

United Nations Day, October 24, was marked by a ceremony and parade attended by a crowd several hundred strong, including Governor General Peter Hollingworth, and CA Lt-Gen Peter Cosgrove.

The was UN formed in the aftermath of the devastation of WW2 to help stabilise international relations and to improve the prospect of long-term peace.

The UN was born on October 24, 1945, the day the United Nations Charter was ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the UK, the US and by a majority of other signatories.

Since that day the UN can be credited with negotiating 172 peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflicts.

Some of the organisation's major accomplishments include resolving apartheid in South Africa, eradicating smallpox and ending the Iraq-Iran War.

Dignitaries placed wreaths before a catafalque party, taking position with veterans on a parade which formed a tangible reminder of the thousands of Anzacs and police officers who have worn the blue beret in the past half century.