President Sakellaropoulou: ‘The courage and unity of purpose of the heroes of 1940 a valuable legacy’
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“The national anniversary of the glorious “NO” is a day of memory, honour and responsibility toward those who fought and sacrificed themselves for our freedom,” President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said on Monday, in a statement immediately after the conclusion of the grand military parade in Thessaloniki.
“The strength and unity of purpose of the heroes of 1940 are a valuable legacy and a bright example for the future. On the occasion of today’s resplendent parade, I would like to praise our Armed Forces, who with a high sense of responsibility guarantee the security and territorial integrity of our homeland,” she added.
The highlight of the parade was the communication, via radio, between the president and Squadron Leader Georgios Sotiriou, commander of the F-16 fighter aircraft in the “ZEUS” Air Demonstration Team, who awed onlookers with a series of impressive precision exercises and highly-skilled maneuvers above the parade ground, taking the spectators’ breath away.
During the exchange, the squadron leader quoted the words of poet Kostis Palamas and noted the need to honour the sacrifices of the past, with the president replying that Greece honours both the heroes of the past but also “our Armed Forces, who daily confront history, in every corner of our country on land, sky and sea,” emphasising that they have the trust and respect of the Greek people.
The parade featured impressive displays by formations of fighter jets and helicopters flying above the city of Thessaloniki, as well as state-of-the-art weapon systems of the Greek Armed Forces, motorised and infantry units of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, the Fire Brigade, the Police and the Coast Guard.
The parade began with the non-military units, while the warm, sunny weather helped bring out large crowds to watch the parade, ranged on either side of Megalou Alexandrou Street all along its length.
The parade was attended by the National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, Cyprus Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, the secretary general of the Parliamentary Group of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Nikos Pappas, the Deputy Interior Minister (Macedonia-Thrace) Kostas Gioulekas, ‘Spartiates’ party leader Vassilis Stigas, MPs, MEPs, Central Macedonia Deputy Governor Athina Aidona, Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis, Metropolitan Philotheos, the head of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS) General Dimitrios Houpis and the leadership of the armed and security forces.
source ANA-MPA
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