According to an announcement by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), the annual Memorial of Sergeant Konstantinos Meligonis was held on Friday, September 3, 2021 at the Church of Agia Efimia in Nea Chalkidona. Sergeant Konstantinos Meligonis was fatally injured in the early hours of September 4, 2020 during a night free fall operational jump. The Sergeant was a member of the Special Paratroopers Division (ETA), the most selected division of the Special Forces of the Hellenic Army. 

The memorial was followed by the unveiling of Konstantinos Meligonis’ bust, which was erected at the place where he grew up, in the Olympic Square of Nea Chalkidona. The said square has been renamed after “Sergeant Konstantinos Meligonis” following a unanimous decision of the Municipal Council of Nea Philadelphia – Nea Chalkidona.

The ceremony in honour of the heroic commando was attended by the new Deputy Minister of National Defence, Nikos Hardalias, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, the Mayor of New Philadelphia – New Chalkidona, the Metropolitan of Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Iraklion and Chalkidona, Mr. Gavriel, the Chiefs of all three National Defence branches and the commander of the Special Warfare Command. 

According to the announcement of GEETHA, in his greeting during the ceremony, the Chief of GEETHA, Konstantinos Floros, paid tribute to the memory of Sergeant Konstantinos Meligonis, describing him as the “authentically brave man who has now joined the Pantheon of the Armed Forces’ Immortals”, while he pointed out that his Bust will radiate as a beacon of heroism and self-sacrifice, illuminating the path of Honour and Debt for both today’s and future Greek generations.

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