The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos attended today, Sunday 30 October 2022, the remembrance events organised by the Region of Western Macedonia in Eptahori, Kastoria, where the “Pindus HQ” command was under Colonel Konstantinos Davakis; this was the place where in November 1940 the first victory against the Axis forces occurred.
The event was also attended by the Head of the Prime Minister’s Office in Thessaloniki Ms. Maria Antoniou, the MP of the New Democracy party for Kastoria Mr. Zisis Tzikalagias, the Governor for the Region of Western Macedonia Mr. Georgios Kasapidis, the Mayor of Nestorio Mr. Christos Gosliopoulos, the Commander of C Army Corps/NRDC-GR Lieutenant General Sotirios Kostakoglou, representatives of Parties, of the Local Government and Regional Administration, and cultural operators.
The Minister of National Defence attended the memorial service officiated by his Eminence the Metropolitan of Kastoria Kallinikos at the busts of the six Combatant Heroes of 1940, among whom Colonel Konstantinos Davakis, and laid a wreath. Next, he went to Davaki Square where the building used as Headquarters stands.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos also went to Zouzouli Local Community, where he attended the Trisagion service and laid a wreath at the tombs of the fallen Greek Army Officers and Soldiers that fought during the Greek Epic of 1940-1941.
From Davaki Square in Eptahori, the Minister of National Defence stated the following:
“There are many and bright celebration and remembrance events these days for the Epic of 1940, for the 28 October anniversary, but the one I attended here today in Eptahori, Kastoria, was surely special; here, where the headquarters of Colonel Konstantinos Davakis was located, who came in Pindus in August 1940 to organize and prepare the Greek defence against the upcoming Italian invasion, as reflected by the developments of that time.
I had the honor and pleasure to participate in the remembrance events today as well; let us all bring to our minds the heroes who struggled, fought and sacrificed themselves to repulse the Italian invasion and keep Greece free. I already stated it in my position and I still do and I will always say it, that this country and this place, especially this place where everything happened back then, carries a very heavy historical legacy.
A legacy charged with glory and blood; and yet this legacy is not a burden, it cannot be a burden for us, it is our strength and it will continue to be so, as long as we keep on trying to tackle threats and challenges, not only with regard to security of the modern era, which surely has its own characteristics and must always find us ready and prepared; just like the Greek Army, back then, was ready and prepared under the command of Colonel Davakis, here in Eptahori, in the mountains of Pindus.
Many happy returns”.
