The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis, the Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet Vice Admiral Ioannis Pavlopoulos and the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Nikolaos Manolakos attended the commemoration of the attack to Destroyer “Vasilissa Olga” 74 years ago.

The Minister of National Defence, in his address, stated the following:

“It is a special moment and a great honour for me to be with you again, here, on the beautiful island of Leros, at this commemoration of the sinking of destroyer “Vasilissa Olga” 74 years ago.

The destroyer “Vasilissa Olga” was one of the most glorious ships of the Hellenic Navy and took decisive action during World War II until her last battle. In the morning of 26 September, 1943, it sailed to Lakki, leros, where she was attacked by German aircraft and sank. The commander, six officers and 65 NCOs and seamen were the victims of the assault. They all added a brilliant page in the history of the glorious Hellenic Navy with their sacrifice.

It is important to honour the heroes; because apart from our eternal gratitude to those who performed fully their supreme duty to the homeland according to their oath, we also honour the memory of all the unknown and known soldiers who fell for their faith and land.

“Happiness to be the fruit of freedom and freedom of valour”, as Pericles said in his Epitaph. Only free people can be happy and only the brave can be free. And the crew of “Vasilissa Olga” were really brave.

And the “wet grave” of the ship, reminds us that we have the obligation not to strike the flags and to continue struggling for a sovereign and proud Greece. This obligation towards the heroes of the past and the generations of the future is a national duty.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Considering the greatness of the offer and sacrifice of our heroes, we are called on to contemplate our duty too. Every loss symbolizes a different thing and bears its own light that keeps the flame of right and just, patriotism, thanks to which we are all here free today.

Particularly, over this period of a general instability in the wider area, we are all called on to stand still and use the historical memory and conscience in order to update the messages of readiness and deterrence against any risk.

Greece has always been on the side of the good. Greeks fought only for their land and faith and they will continue to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moreover, thanks to the Armed Forces, we are a centre of stability in the wider area of the Mediterranean Sea.

On days like this, we should contemplate and remember that no matter what our disputes are, there is something deeper and more sacred that unites us. This is Greece. There are no political disputes when it comes to Greeks supporting the Armed Forces.

Every day, the political and military leadership, the personnel of the Armed Forces, our conscripts and national guards – whom I would like to thank in particular for their latest exercises which they conduct under the orders of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands – protest to friends and adversaries that his land, this sea, this air were and will always be Greek. Our government faces challenges with sangfroid and decisiveness as well.

We conduct a continuous struggle, because it is those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for such ideals as Freedom, Justice, Dignity and Peace, who win the real victory.

We need to believe in the strength of our soul, in our historically proven bravery and surpass our abilities as a Nation. We were born in this sacred land, we breath its untamed air, we have been raised with high principles and ideals, we carry a legacy of spirit and freedom.

Nowadays, after two and a half years of efforts, we have managed, together with the Greek people, to make Greece a strong and free country rather than a country in crisis, which will become more apparent from next year on. The people, after years of sacrifices, will be able again to stare at the future with hopefulness.

Mr. Mayor, I would like to congratulate the residents of this remote island and you personally for defending the Greek flag here on Leros island, under hard conditions and I would like to assure you that the Ministry of National Defence and the Armed Forces will always be on your side.

Mr. Mayor, we will never forget, that, contrary to other bad examples, the people of Leros, from the first moment, supported our land when it faced the big problem of the refugee-migrant issue. With love and patience you embraced these people who came here like we did when we left Asia Minor, banished because of the holocaust in Smyrna. You embraced them and took care of them at hard times and, as you may see, this has been globally acknowledged.  

I would like to thank you for this, as well as the people of Leros for their patience, the officers, the NCOs, the personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Hellenic Police, the Armed Forces, as well as the volunteers for this great effort.

The Chief of HNDGS, the Commander in Chief and I had the chance to dive into the sea and visit the wreck of “Vasilissa Olga”. For this possibility, to be able to live the history, we will do our best to create an underwater Museum with the assistance of the Hellenic Navy.

As a conclusion, I would like to assure you all that the Armed Forces are ready to respond to any challenge. There will be no aircraft which will not be intercepted; nobody will dare to question the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greece. We are ready, at sea, air and land to respond to any challenge.

Long live the Armed Forces, long live Greece, long live the memory of the heroes of “Vasilissa Olga”.