On Sunday 02 June 2024, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, representing the President of the Hellenic Government, attended Commemoration Events for the 18 Execution Victims of the Nazis, on 2 June 1941, in Adele, Rethymnon, where he was greeted by SEAP Commandant, Brigadier General Konstantinos Spanoudakis.
Honours were paid at the Sarakina Monument by the Honours Detachment of the 5th Airmobile Brigade, while a Memorial Service, a roll call of the executed, and a laying of wreaths were held. The identified skulls of the 18 victims are preserved and kept in their totality, in the Adele cenotaph.
In the commemorations’ framework, speeches and addresses were made, while the Philharmonic Band of the Rethymnon Municipality participated, as well as the Cultural Club Merona of Amarion municipality.
The Honorary Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Manousos Paragioudakis, Dr. Panagiotis Paraskevas, Professor Mr. Georgios Alexandrakis, and Professor Mr. Nikolaos Poulakakis gave speeches, while addresses were made by the Mayor of Rethymnon Mr. Giorgis Marinakis, the Deputy Head of Region of Rethymnon, Ms. Maria Lioni, and the President of the Cultural Club of Adele – Agia Paraskevi Ms. Patra Panaretaki.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated:
“It is with particular emotion that I observed, representing the Prime Minister, the commemoration events for our 18 countrymen executed by the Nazis, on 2 June 1941, in Adele, Rethymnon.
I would like to congratulate all those who contributed to the identification of the victims’ skulls, which are preserved and kept in their totality, in the cenotaph here in Adele.
We honour the people who watered the tree of liberty with their blood.
From their example, strength is drawn by the women and men of the Armed Forces who, daily on land, at sea and in the air, carry on their struggle, defending the national ideals and sovereign rights of our country.”
