The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Giakoumakis attended the memorial service to the honour of the three fallen officers of the Hellenic Navy Anastasios Toulitsis, Konstantinos Pananas and Eleftherios Evangelou, held on Kinaros island. The memorial service was attended by relatives of the fallen Officers.

The Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

“Today, the leadership of the Armed Forces and the Hellenic Navy, and the relatives of the heroes honour our heroes Vice Admiral Anastasios Toulitsis, Vice Admiral Konstantinos Pananas and Captain Eleftherios Evangelou who fell for the homeland, here, at Kinaros. They fell in peace time for their faith and homeland. This is a message which we all must understand; that the Hellenic Armed Forces are trained on a daily basis in war conditions, to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The fate decided for them to join the pantheon of heroes, along with the heroes of Imia islets, along with the heroes of the Hellenic Air Force who fell in peace time. Our presence here is not symbolic, but substantial. Their families mourn. Their children, their wives, their parents will always remember them and the Hellenic Navy, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the Ministry of National Defence and our Nation will remember that three Greek officers gave their souls and blood to defend all of us at Kinaros.

They will be paid the proper tributes and we will undertake – along with their families – to be as close as possible to their children and wives, without, of course, being ever able to fill the gap created by their loss.

Only one phrase can come out of the lips of Greek people: Let them be immortal”.