The military parade in downtown Athens celebrating the anniversary of the 1821 Greek revolution took place with grandeur as every year with the maiden flight of the Rafale over the Athenian skies.

The flights of the F-16 Viper and Apache helicopters over the Greek capital were also impressive, while the “premiere” of the Marder 1A3 armored fighting vehicles also caught the eye. The vehicles were received last October as part of a relevant agreement between our country and Germany. The vehicles are part of upgrading the combat capability of Army units, increasing their combat power, as well as enhancing the interoperability of Motorized Infantry units with those of armored units.

At the same time as every year, the parade of Evzones Presidential Guard stood out with the amazing tapping of their feet during their march.

The statement of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou after the parade

“March 25, 1821, is a milestone for Hellenism. The historical starting point of a difficult and long struggle for freedom and independence, after four hundred years of the Turkish yoke, a day of national rebirth and upliftment.

With today’s magnificent parade, we honour the memory of our heroic ancestors and reflect on our responsibility towards history. It is our duty, with solidarity and one mind, to show ourselves worthy of their sacrifices.”

The message of Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the end of the parade

“This year’s celebration of national independence and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is being held in the shadow of a great tragedy. This makes the essential historical reflection even more necessary,” stressed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his statement at the end of the parade, pointing out at the same time that national independence is a necessary condition for social cohesion and progress.

Referring to the need for reflection, the Prime Minister said that it consists in “how we can be inspired by the triumphs of our nation, how we can learn from the tragedies in this long course of continuous progress of the Greek state, the Greek nation, the Greek people”.