On Tuesday 12 March 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Ioannis Kefalogiannis attended the signing ceremony of a Cooperation Memorandum between the 95 Higher National Guard Battalions Command “DIAGORIDON” and the “Vasilios G. Melas for Pre-school Education” Foundation for the construction and erection of a new Kindergarten in Rhodes, within the premises of “KATEHAKI” Camp.
He was welcomed by the Chief/HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis and the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou. The ceremony was attended remotely by the Commander of the 95 Higher National Guard Battalions Command Major General Georgios Manouras. The Honorary Chief/HAGS General (ret.) Charalambos Lalousis was also present.
In the context of his address, Mr Kefalogiannis stated that the new kindergarten shall have the availability of accommodating 40 infants and thanked Melas family and the President of the Management Committee of the Foundation Mr Georgios L. Melas, for the love and the valuable contribution towards the Armed Forces. At the same time, he stressed that the Ministry of National Defence, setting as main priority the continuous improvement of the services provided to the families of the members, will continue adopting measures and support initiatives for the upgrade of the level of personnel welfare.
The Deputy Minister stated in his address:
“It is with great pleasure and emotion that I am here today, at the headquarters of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands, to jointly sign with the President of the “Vasilios G. Melas for Pre-school Education” 2 Foundation, Mr Georgios Melas, the Memorandum concerning the construction of the Kindergarten in Rhodes.
The beneficence of Mr Melas and the care of the Foundation for pre-school education is a major investment regarding the children of our members, which will yield magnificent results.
At this point, allow me to mention the love of the Melas Family for the Armed Forces and its contribution to the Country. A contribution, that as you all know, does not only regard material resources, but is mainly assessed in terms of sacrifices and blood.
This donation represents not only a valuable contribution to the Ministry of National Defence, but a commitment for the support of the children’s welfare and family’s stability, to the benefit of the military and civilian personnel of our Armed Forces.
The “Vasilios G. Melas for Pre-school Education” Foundation, from 1895 up to now, has been constructing kindergartens through its grants, in cooperation with the Municipalities throughout Greece, aiming at an attractive, creative and happy environment for the children of this age.
The new kindergarten at “KATEHAKI” Camp in Rhodes will be able to accommodate 40 infants. The children will have a new space, constructed with all modern specifications, which will help them in their first steps in the world of knowledge. At the same time, it will provide an important financial relief to equally numbered families of military and civilian personnel, which will make use of this great beneficence.
Furthermore, the new kindergarten is supplementing another beneficence towards the personnel of our Armed Forces: the construction of the Kindergarten in Alexandroupolis, which was a reward for the families of our members, who struggle every day for the defence of our country.
Through this cooperation, modern, operational kindergartens are established, offering high level education opportunities to our children. Besides, this initiative reflects the devotion of the state and of the benefactors as well, like Melas Foundation, to the education and prosperity of the new generations.
The Ministry of National Defence continues to support these initiatives and to promote the cooperation with Foundations and Organisations that contribute to the improvement of the education process in Greece. It is another step to the implementation of the plan of the Ministry of National Defence for the total upgrade of personnel welfare level. In this context, we express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to “Vasilios G. Melas for Pre-school Education” Foundation for the smooth cooperation and trust it showed to the Ministry of National Defence. The Ministry of National Defence, in the context of personnel welfare, has set as main priority the continuous improvement of the services provided to the families of the members, by adopting a series of measures, among which the establishment of Kindergartens in the headquarters of most Formations of the Armed Forces. The Government has been committed to the Armed Forces 3 personnel welfare and provides a concrete and efficient proof of this commitment.
Mr Melas, allow me to express once more my warmest thanks, as well as the deep feelings of gratitude, for your contribution to this great effort. Be certain, that our personnel, those who undergo hardships and sacrifice themselves every day for the defence of the country, will always be grateful to you”.
