The Deputy Minister of National Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis attended, as the Representative of the President of the Hellenic Government, the event for the participation and the sacrifice of American philhellenes in the Struggle for the Independence of the Hellenic Nation, on Saturday 24 July 2021, at the garden of Heroes, in Messolonghi.
The event was organised by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), in cooperation with the Municipality of the Sacred Town of Messolonghi. A memorial service was officiated by the Metropolitan Bishop of Aetolia and Acarnania Mr Kosmas. The territorial Regional Vice Governor of Aetolia and Acarnania Ms Maria Salma, as representative of the Regional Governor, the Aetolia and Acarnania MP from the Movement for Change Mr Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, the Mayor of the Sacred Town of Messolonghi Mr Kostas Lyros, the Supreme Vice President of the AHEPA America Mr Dimitris Kokotas, the District Governor of AHEPA Greece Mr Kostas Varsamis, the President of “AHEPA Lepanto 1571” Mr Angelos Stavropoulos, members of AHEPA and delegations of the Armed Forces, Security Forces and local bodies also attended the event.
During his stay, the Deputy Minister of National Defence also visited the Salt Museum, at the Messolonghi salterns.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence mentioned the following:
“Representing the Hellenic State and communicating the personal address of the President of the Hellenic Government Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I feel particular joy to attend today’s tribute event for the Struggle of the Nation’s Rebirth, organised by AHEPA, the greatest global organisation of the expatriates of Hellenism, to honour the sacrifice of the American philhellenes, in the effort for the independence of the Hellenic Nation.
The current temporal circumstance is made unique, since this year we celebrate the 200th anniversary since the commencement of the struggle for the nation’s liberation and its “Resurrection”, a struggle which led to the establishment of the modern Hellenic State, consolidating Greece’s presence, after a centuries-old absence, to the global political map, as a modern, democratic and law-regulated state.
The American support to the Greek Revolution had substantial social consequences and deep political impact to the United States, while the war for the Greek Independence assisted the Americans to redefine, as a people, to interpret the heritage of the American Revolution, to connect their democratic ideals with the ancient Greek past of intellectuality and culture and finally look, from a different perspective, at their position in the national scene.
The American Philhellenic Movement, was a hearty ideological act of solidarity which marked the political, social and academic life of the United States, in the 1820s, and inspired the significant activation of many American Philhellenes, in a time when America followed the Monroe Doctrine and a policy of strict neutrality and introversion, since it did not wish to engage in European matters and seemed unready to play a substantial and key role abroad.
However, the neutrality of the American foreign policy did not daunt the impulsive fervour of the public opinion, resulting soon in the formation of multiple philhellenic committees for the support of the Greek Revolution in big American cities, which sparked the public sentiment and sympathy for Greece, finally strengthening the fighting Greek people, on one hand with material assets, by sending money, foodstuffs and clothes, by providing moral support, with publications and newspapers, but also with the organisation of pertinent artistic events, concerts, theatrical shows and balls.
However, the most touching aspect of the American philhellenism is the fact that the ships which came loaded with humanitarian assistance to Greece, never turned back empty. The American missionaries always managed to save many Greek orphans from slavery or death, who then studied in the United States and became prominent figures of the American society, like judges, doctors or even officers of the American army and navy.
As Greeks, we should be grateful to all the American philhellenes, who, in one way or another, stood by our side from thousand miles away and decisively contributed to our liberty and independence.
This year’s two centuries anniversary since the commencement of the national liberation struggle, constitutes a unique opportunity of historical revision and national self-awareness, a deed of daring appraisal and life-giving circumspection of the everlasting values of Hellenism, values which constituted the basis for the shaping of the modern western civilisation, making Greece an everlastingly progressive, democratic state, with solid institutions and non-negotiable position in the European and global state of affairs.
The research on heroic events, which took place throughout the struggle, motivates us to draw inspiration, to borrow evaluative codes and pattern ourselves upon heroic behaviours, sparking within us extensive processes which can lead, slowly but steadily, to the radical revaluation of all the ideals of the Greek society.
Our goal can be none other than to continue on our heroic historical course, to project our moral posture and to preserve our traditional everlasting values and ideals unalterable.
As a Nation, we are called to seize the opportunity, to draw knowledge, to be inspired by our glorious past, to visualise tomorrow, to look to the future with optimism and hope and reintroduce ourselves with our new, modern identity, throughout the globe.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, 200 years after the commencement of the Rising of our Nation, the Homeland is called to counter, with credence and effectiveness, a group of complex and multidimensional possible challenges, dangers and threats, in a way which absolutely secures its national sovereign rights.
Through combined actions in the field of defence diplomacy, the country strives to strengthen its security and to bring forth its stabilising and constructive role, as the driving force of positive developments, for the whole region of the Balkans and the Southeastern Mediterranean.
It is apparent that Greece, due to its indubitable geostrategic superiority, constitutes the key country in the regional security system and implements a defensive and foreign policy of unwavering principles and positions which are based on the admirable cooperation and solidarity, through the framework of international organisations, but also of equal bilateral relations.
As the leading power in the region and a long-standing ally of NATO, Greece develops and preserves an everlasting powerful defensive collaboration with the United States. A collaboration of strategic nature and mutually beneficial, which is driven by the common desire of substantial contribution to security, stability and well-being of our wider region.
The two countries’ strategic relation could currently be characterised as exceptional and that can be substantiated from the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) signed by them, which is currently updated and upgraded, including new investments to current joint infrastructures in Souda, Central Greece and Alexandroupoli.
The volition for further strengthening of the long-lasting defensive bonds between Greece and the United States is mutual and looks forward to the securing and preservation of strong, effective and interoperable Armed Forces, consolidating even more the extensive strategic relation and cooperation of the two countries. A relation which is not founded only on some circumstance or to the consonance of precarious interests, but to the shared values of liberty, democracy, human rights, respect of International Law, values in which the two countries believe firmly, as stable and reliable NATO allies.
In conclusion, I would like to assure you that our Homeland’s Armed Forces are battle-worthy, arduously trained, a mighty tool of deterrence against any challenge or threat and they are never going to allow the establishment of accomplished facts against our sovereign rights. Faithful to their oath, honouring their grand historic heritage, they constitute the indubitable focal point of our Homeland’s national strength and become, with constant operational readiness, but also with their high combative and deterrent force, the spearhead of our Nation’s morale, against those with evil intentions against our national independence and territorial integrity.
The Revolution of 1821 will stay forever etched in the brightest letters in the History of the Hellenic Nation, as a permanent guide and secure fellow traveler in the course of our national awakening and rebirth, holding a prominent position on the dais of our collective memory and ascertaining the indomitable will, the pride, the inexhaustible mental resilience and grandeur of the Greek”.
