The inauguration ceremony of the Monument to the Nation’s Fallen was held at the “PAPAGOU” Camp on Wednesday November 29, 2023. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, on behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Konstantinos Tassoulas, and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), General Konstantinos Floros.

The construction of the Monument was implemented at the initiative of the Chief of HNDGS and serves as an expression of gratitude to the generations of Heroes who dedicated their lives to the freedom and defence of our Country’s ideals, giving due value and honor to their sacrifice.

The names of the 121,692 Fallen on the battlefields will henceforth adorn the prominent headstones of the Memorial, being an eternal reminder of the sacred and glorious legacy they bequeathed with their heroic deeds to the generations to come.

The extremely elegant and imposing Monument to the Nation’s Fallen, the only one of its kind, with inscriptions of all those who sacrificed their lives for the Homeland, highlights their sacrifice as a beacon of debt and responsibility, being a constant reminder of the greatness of their actions and timeless inspiration for fulfilling the mission of the Armed Forces.

Special features of the Monument are the altar, on which the eternal flame will burn unquenchable in memory of the Fallen, symbolizing the timeless respect for them and the unquenchable passion for offering to the Motherland, as well as the national flag fluttering above all the headstones with the names of the Fallen Heroes.

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It is pointed out that beyond the highly symbolic character of the Monument, functionality was also a determining factor throughout its construction. The location of this highly symbolic and unique Monument was chosen to be at the main entrance of the “PAPAGOU” Camp so that, on the one hand, it would be the place where the official guests of the Political and Military Leadership would pay their respects and, on the other hand, it would be easily accessible to the general public (individuals, schools, institutions, etc.).

The inauguration ceremony included the lighting of the Flame of the Monument, a memorial service, and the laying of wreaths, with the Deputy Minister of National Defence and the Chief of the HNDGS addressing a greeting.

During his greeting, the Chief of HNDGS referred to the historic, emblematic, sacred, and moving occasion of the inauguration of the Monument to the Nation’s Fallen, with which the minimum due tribute is paid to the Heroic Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Soldiers, Sailors and Aircraftmen, who safeguarded the freedom of the Motherland and the honor of the Greek arms with their supreme sacrifices.

He emphasized that the 121,692 names of those who fell on the battlefields will be a timeless reminder of the historical heritage and the responsibility to ensure the integrity of the entire Greek territory, declaring that he is particularly proud that such symbolic monument was envisioned, completed and delivered to later generations during his tenure as Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces.

The Chief also made special reference to those who contributed in any way to the construction of the Monument and especially to Mrs. Athina Tsounis, daughter of the late Honorary Lieutenant General Iakovos Tsounis, who accepted his proposal, so that the significant sum of money allocated by her late father for the improvement and thorough renovation of the office of the Chief of the HNDGS would be allocated to the construction of the Monument. Further, the Chief referred to the FHL KIRIAKIDIS GROUP Group for its significant sponsorship and contribution to the adornment of the Monument.

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