The Deputy Minister of National Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis attended today, Saturday 21 August 2021, the celebrations in memory of the Fallen Airmen, as well as unveiling of the busts Aviation Officers First Lieutenant Nikolaos Sialmas and Second Lieutenant Konstantinos Kontogiorgos, organized by the Thermo Municipality, Aetolia and Acarnania.
He carried out the busts unveiling and attended the short memorial service in the memory of the fallen, officiated by the Metropolitan Bishop of Aetolia and Acarnania Mr. Kosmas. He also laid a wreath in the Memorial of the five heroes.
The celebrations were attended by relatives of the heroic pilots, the Mayor of Thermo Mr. Spyridon Konstantaras, the MPs of Aetolia and Acarnania (ND) Mr. Marios Salmas and Mr. Konstantinos Karagounis, the territorial Regional Vice Governor of Aetolia and Acarnania Ms Maria Salma, representing the Regional Governor of West Greece, the Mayor of North Tzoumerka Mr. Ioannis Senteles, a representative of the Mayor of the Sacred City of Messolonghi, Representatives of HNDGS, HAFGS, HAGS and HNGS/Chiefs, Members of the Armed and Police Forces, as well as the Representatives of the Retired Army Officers Union of Aetolia and Acarnania and the Pan-hellenic Union of Fallen Airmen Families.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated the following:
“I attend today’s remembrance ceremony deeply touched, paying the owed tribute to the heroic members our Air Force, who sacrificed their life by executing their mission consistently, causing tremendous grief to their families, the Armed Forces and the whole Hellenic society.
The Airmen’s sacrifice we are honouring today completes a huge list of the fallen members of our Air Force, who followed, through time, the path of honour and duty, both in war and peace, showing in the most tragic way the meaning of serving the Country till the “last drop of your blood”.
It is a duty that the Greek Air Force officers are committed to, from the first moment of their incorporation in the air force family which they follow with loyalty throughout their career, knowing that overcoming fear, the hard effort and everyday risk are basic prerequisites to fulfil the mission that lies in the defence of the prevailing ideals of Hellenism, freedom, independence and democracy.
So, today’s remembrance ceremony must not constitute a typical act of paying tribute to our dead airmen, but rather an important event, of special moral importance and meaning.
As in Ancient Greece, an Epitaph was an act of admonition and collective reference to the prevailing concepts of the Country, honour and unselfishness, so today’s ceremony is the best proof for all of us, that the Nation’s path to the future depends directly on the sense of duty.
So, this day is devoted to those great Greek Airmen, a day of honour and recognition for the Air Force and the Armed Forces in general, who devoted to their duty, remain a guarantor of the national independence and the territorial integrity of the Country.
We bow before the heroic figures of the fallen with respect and we sincerely sympathize with their families, assuring that the loss, the pain, the tears and the sacrifice of their loved ones defines our own moral duty to keep their memory alive and project it as a role model to all Greeks.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We live in a peculiar period, during which the Country is called to face a set of complex and multi-dimensional challenges, risks and threats reliably and effectively, in a way that completely assures our national interests.
In this context, the consolidation of peace and security can only be ensured through the undeviating will and our steady operational readiness at all levels, having deterrence as the focal point of our whole defence planning.
As a country, we always apply a policy based on good neighbouring principles, the respect of international law and Aquis Communautaire, a policy that makes Greece standing firm against any scheming, composing through its mighty and modern Armed Forces, a uniform and impenetrable web, incorporating land, sea and air, deterring any challenge or threat against our national sovereign rights.
First Lieutenant Nikolaos Sialmas,
Second Lieutenant Konstantinos Kontogiorgos,
Chief Warrant Officer Evangelos Stathopoulos,
Sergeant Vassilios Kourkoutas,
Sergeant Efstathios Tsigas,
We honour you and we feel grateful for everything you offered to our Country. Our respect and love will accompany you for ever.
May you always be Immortal”.
