The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos awarded the Commendation Medal for Merit and Honour to the Air Force Master Sergeant Grigorios Valkanas posthumously, for the self-sacrifice and loyalty that he demonstrated on the battlefield, on November 18, 1940. The award ceremony which was held in Chranoi, Arkadia, was attended by the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Christos Vaitsis. The Commendation Medal Star for Merit and Honour was handed to a member of Grigorios Valkanas’ family.
The Minister of National Defence, in his address, stated the following:
“Having in mind the verse of our poet Kostis Palamas who wrote that the grandeur of a people cannot be measured in meters, but by the fire in their hearts and blood, having a feeling of emotion, awe and national pride, we gathered here today, in Chranoi, Arkadia, to pay the due homage to Master Sergeant Grigorios Valkanas who decided to sacrifice himself in order to shoot down an enemy aircraft, at an air battle on the Albanian Front, in 1940.
On November 18, 1940, a P.Z.L. aircraft of the 23rd Pursuit Wing, while pursuing an Italian bomber and after running out of ammunition without having achieved to shoot it down, it rammed it with the propeller of the aircraft demonstrating an unrivalled courage, heroism and self-sacrifice. He followed the example of his fellow warrior Marinos Mitralexis.
Grigoris Valkanas, fighting for his country’s freedom, died while he was still flying in the air space near Korytsa. His example must be always remembered because it is real and glorious part of the Greek history. He sacrificed his life consciously to keep the Greek sky free and he demonstrated courage, determination and self-denial. It is these virtues that we honour today by attending this commemoration.
At this point, I would like to say that he was not paid the due homage back then because, after Mitralexis’ sacrifice, they did not want such actions of heroism to become popular and be encouraged among people at that time.
This is the reason why the Ministry of National Defence, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff are here today, to pay the homage that we ought to after several years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
People of Chranoi,
I will borrow again the verse of our great poet who wrote that we are indebted to those who came and passed away, to those who will come and pass away; the judges that will judge us will be the unborn and the dead. It is with such examples of heroism and self-denial we should raise young air force officers, our Armed Forces’ personnel and the following generations.
Honour and glory to Master Sergeant Grigorios Valkanas and all those heroes who did not hesitate to give their lives “obedient to their orders”!
May he always be remembered”!
