On Wednesday, 23 October 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Fallen Cadets Officers Memorial and of the Academy Museum at the Hellenic Military Academy.
The ceremony was attended by the Chief HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, representatives of the Chiefs of General Staff, the Academy Commandant, Major General Anastasios Polychronos, the Mayor of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni Mr. Gregoris Konstantellos, Honorary Chiefs of the Armed Forces, senior and general officers, and the academic personnel of the Academy.
Mr. Kefalogiannis stressed that the Fallen Cadets Officers Memorial inaugurated today is a symbol of everlasting memory and acknowledgment of the highest contribution, a sacred place, where the 749 heroes, Officers and Cadets, who sacrificed their lives on duty, will never be forgotten. At the same time, he pointed out that the Memorial is a constant reminder of the moral debt that we have to defend the Country with courage, devotion, dignity, and love for freedom.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated among other things:
“We are here today, at the Hellenic Military Academy, the cradle of future army leaders, to participate in a deeply symbolic ceremony: The inauguration of the “Fallen Cadets Officers Memorial”. It is a moment of honour, memory and gratitude to those heroes, who, as Officers and Cadets, sacrificed their life in the service of the Country. The Hellenic Military Academy is the place where the ideals of duty, devotion, and self-denial are born. The 749 Officers and Cadets who sacrificed their life on duty belong to the same family with you. They made the same trip; they received similar training, and were instilled with the same principles and ideals.
Today, we honour these fallen men, not only for their sacrifice, but also for their devotion to the ideals that grow in this sacred place. The Memorial we inaugurate today is a symbol of everlasting memory and acknowledgment of the highest contribution. It is a sacred place, where the sacrifice of these heroes will never be forgotten. It represents the moral stand of the Military Academy and of the values it stands for: the devotion to the Country, the honour, the solidarity and the love for freedom.
Dear Cadets,
The history of these fallen men must be for you a source of inspiration and example. Every day that you train here, every time you wear your uniform, you carry the heritage of all these heroes. Their sacrifice reminds you that your duty as future leaders of the Armed Forces is sacred. There is no bigger honour than serving the Country and protecting freedom and the security of our fellow citizens. The Fallen Cadets Officers Memorial is not just a symbol of memory. It is a constant reminder of the moral debt that we all have and our commitment to defend the Country with courage, devotion and dignity. The heroes we honour today died defending the ideals of Greece. Let us always keep their memory alive and may their sacrifice be a beacon for the future of our Country.
On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of National Defence, I would like to express my kind thanks to the donor of the memorial, my deep gratitude for the sacrifice of these heroes, and the promise that they will always be in our mind and heart.
May their memory be eternal.
Thank you”.
