Greek women and men,
Dear compatriots,
86 years ago, at dawn on October 28, 1940, Greece was called upon to respond to Mussolini's ultimatum, which demanded its immediate surrender and neutrality.
The answer was “No.” A small word, whose historical weight continues to make all Greeks proud. This word encapsulates the decision of an entire people to defend their freedom and dignity, knowing that this choice would come at a heavy price.
The "No" was written in the Pindos mountains with the blood of our soldiers. Greece responded with "Fire to the lawless fire", as our great poet Odysseas Elytis wrote, in his "Heroic and mournful song for the lost second lieutenant of Albania".
But it was also written in the homes and hearts of people, in the women who, amidst the difficult conditions of war, transported supplies to the front, in the families who experienced anguish, absence and loss.
"No" became a strong wind that crossed borders and made the hearts of Greeks abroad tremble, provoking feelings of national pride and awakening national spirit.
The Pindus front reached Greek homes in America, Australia, Egypt, South Africa and wherever else there were Greek communities.
Greeks who had lived for years away from their homeland contributed from their own resources. Some gave money, others worked voluntarily, and others returned or volunteered to serve the homeland of their parents and ancestors.
The mobilization of Greeks abroad in the 40s is proof that Hellenism is not limited to the geographical borders of Greece. The homeland is not just a geographical place. It is memory, language, family and national responsibility.
Greece lives where there are people who keep the language, history, culture and collective memory alive. It lives within the families, communities, schools and churches of the Greek diaspora. And, above all, it lives through the legacy of values and ideas that is passed down from one generation to the next.
Our greatest responsibility is to hand down this memory to future generations. It is our duty to teach our children not only what happened in 1940, but also why it still matters. To learn that behind the "No" there were people who did not succumb to ultimatums and chose freedom, aware of its harsh price.
Decades later, in a world tested by armed conflicts, economic and energy crises, the historical legacy of October 28th reminds us that freedom, dignity and faith in our values are not self-evident. They require vigilance, responsibility and, above all, unity.
Dear compatriots, dear compatriots,
Today we honor those who fought and sacrificed for freedom.
Let's convey this message to our children.
Let's keep memory alive as a responsibility for the future.
Happy birthday to all Greek women and all Greek men, wherever they are.
Long live October 28th!
Long live Greece!
John M. Loverdos
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic
Konstantinos Danassis
Consul General of Greece
Tampa, Florida
Consulate General of Greece/Consulate General of Greece
400 North Tampa Street Suite 1160
TampaFL 33602
Phone: + 1 (813) 865 0200
Fax: + 1 (813) 865-0206
Photo By Evripidis Stylianidis, cropping by Ferengi – File:Samaras-Loverdos-Stylianidis.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20038291, https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/
