Ceremony with heroes of WWII in Sidirokastro, May 30, 1949

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Newspapper "EΜΠΡΟΣ" on June 8, 1949

On May 30, 1949, the newspaper "Embros" recorded a touching moment that highlighted the courage and self-sacrifice of the Greek fighters. Eight disabled war veterans, who fought bravely in World War II, visited Sidirokastro, representing the Panhellenic Congress of the Disabled. These brave Greeks, who had sacrificed members of their bodies for the honor and integrity of the homeland, arrived in the city to honor the heroes who had defended the Macedonian land from enemy attacks.

Their reception was worthy of their offer, with military honors and warm displays from the local community, officers, students, scouts and crowds of people. The atmosphere was full of patriotism and emotion, with a young lady offering flowers to the disabled, symbolizing the people's gratitude for their sacrifices.

The visit concluded with their participation in various events, such as their arrival at the "Metaxa" line fort, where they were received by the soldiers with honors, and the offering of a flag, which they raised with pride. Their presence and the promise of the soldiers to defend Macedonia with every sacrifice renewed everyone's morale and faith in the final victory of the Nation.

"May 30, 1949. Eight invalids, eight fighters of the last war, eight genuine Greeks in body and soul, who gave their limbs for the honor, glory and integrity of Greece, came to the martyrdom city ​​of the Iron Castle from Thessaloniki, as representatives of the Panhellenic Congress of the Disabled, in order to honorably guard the place where the Slavonic chests were broken a few days ago by a handful of genuine Greeks.

The heroic fighters, who were accompanied by armored vehicles of the Army, were received by the Brigadier General, the Mayor, officers and soldiers, the schools, the Scouts, the Guides and many people, who were blessed by the "And how did you come" they greeted them with flowers and cheering, while the music of the Municipality praised "Greece never dies".

And while everything vibrated with a furious patriotism, a young Greek girl offers to the disabled a bouquet of flowers soaked in poor but necessary flowers of the Macedonian land, watered by recent blood, which was shed by the heroic Greeks, who are loyal to their oath was sacrificed for the root of the tree of Victory and for the greatness of the most brilliant

Homeland. Then the invalids went to a meal, where among others the Bouleu of Serres of K. Lavrentidis was present, so - in these speeches he gave the promise on behalf of all the Greeks and especially of the martyred Sidirokastro, that everyone will be seen as worthy of the ancestors of , offering their lives, for the destruction of communism and the final Victory of the Nation, which is fast approaching.

On the 3rd afternoon, our disabled people accompanied by officers and soldiers of the Ta Xiarchia, the Mayor Mr. Kontobrachnoudis, the Member of Parliament Mr. Lavrentizis, the Bishop Mr. Athanasios, the Scouts, the Schools, the Guides and the Music , they arrived at the "Metaxa" fortress. There, the Commander of the military unit welcomed our disabled people with his soldiers, offering them bouquets, sweets and cigarettes. Our heroic invalids offered a sign, which they raised under the sounds of music

they stood guard for an hour, resting even for a while the border guards, representing the Parliament of the Hellenes was represented by the Member of Parliament Mr. Lavrentidis, in the Municipalities the Mayor Mr. Kontobrachionides and the State by the Prefect Mr. Athan Nasiou. On the 6th in the afternoon, after the invalids had assured the soldiers that they were willing to give their last breath for the Fatherland, and our brave infantry responded as if they would not allow a Bulgarian foot to set foot on Macedonian soil, they left for Sidi rokastron with new faith through the Victory of the Greek Arms under the breath of our King and the common effort of all Greeks.

The next day, our disabled people, having received the best impressions, left through Thessaloniki, bringing the greetings of the critics to the Conference, the disabled, the promise that no barbarian will cross the borders of our bloody and glorified Macedonia and the greetings from Northern Greece to all of Great Greece and its children."

30 Μαΐου 1949. ᾿Οκτὼ ἀνά- πηροι, ὀκτὼ μαχηταὶ τοῦ περασμέ νου Πολέμου, ὀκτὼ γνήσιοι Ελ νες στὸ σῶμα καὶ στὴν ψυχή, που ἔδωσαν τὰ μέλη τοῦ σώματός των, γιὰ τὴν τιμήν, τὴν Δόξαν καὶ τὴν ἀκεραιότητα τῆς Ἑλλάδος, ἦλθαν στην μαρτυρική πόλι τοῦ Σιδηρο κάστρου ἀπὸ τὴ Θεσσαλονίκη, ὡς ἀντιπρόσωποι τοῦ του Πανελληνί ου Συνεδρίου ᾿Αναπήρων, διὰ νὰ να φρουρήσουν τιμητικὰ ἐκεῖ ὅπου ἐθραύσθησαν πρό τινων ἡμερῶν τὰ σλαυόδουλα στήθη ἀπὸ μία χούφτα γνησίων Ελλήνων.

Τοὺς ἡρωϊκοὺς μαχητάς, ποὺ τιμῆς ἕνεκεν συνώδευον τεθωρακι- σμένα ὀχήματα τοῦ Στρατοῦ, ὑπε δέχθησαν ὁ Ταξίαρχος, ὁ χος, ὁ Δήμαρχος, ἀξιωματικοί καὶ ὁπλίται, τὰ σχολεία, οἱ Πρόσκο ποι, κό- αἱ Οδηγοί καὶ πλῆθος κό σμου, τὸ ὁποῖον εὐχήθηκε τὸ «Και λῶς ἤλθατε» ραΐνον αὐτοὺς μὲ ἄνθη καὶ ζητωκραυγάζον, ἐνῷ ἡ μουσικὴ τοῦ Δήμου ἐπαιάνιζεν «Η Ελλάδα ποτέ δὲν πεθαίνει».

Καὶ ἐνῷ τὸ πᾶν ἐδονεῖτο ἀπὸ έναν έξαλλο πατριωτισμό, μία νεα- ρὰ Ἑλληνοπούλα προσφέρει εἰς τοὺς ἀναπήρους ἀνθοδέσμην και μωμένη ἀπὸ πτωχά ἀλλὰ ἀπέριτ- τα λουλούδια τῆς Μακεδονικής γῆς, ποτισμένα ἀπὸ πρόσφατον αἷμα, ποὺ χύθηκε ἀπὸ τοὺς ἡρωϊ- κοὺς Ἕλληνας, ποὺ πιστοὶ στὸν ὅρκον τους ἐθυσιάσθησαν διὰ νὰ ριζώσῃ τὸ δένδρο τῆς Νίκης καὶ διὰ τὸ μεγαλεῖον τῆς πιό λαμπρῆς

Πατρίδος. Μετὰ οἱ ἀνάπηροι παρεκάθησαν εἰς γεῦμα, ὅπου παρευρέθησαν μεταξύ τῶν ἄλλων καὶ ὁ Βουλευ τὴς Σερρών της K. Λαυρεντίδης, ὅσι - στις προσφωνῶν αὐτοὺς ἔδωσε τὴν ὑπόσχεσιν ἐκ μέρους ὅλων τῶν Ἑλ λήνων καὶ εἰδικῶς τοῦ μαρτυρικού Σιδηροκάστρου, ὅτι ἅπαντες θὰ φανοῦν ἀντάξιοι τῶν προγόνων των, προσφέροντες τὴν ζωήν των, διὰ τὴν συντριβὴν τοῦ κομμουνι σμοῦ καὶ τὴν τελικήν Νίκην τοῦ Ἔθνους, ἡ ὁποία πλησιάζει μὲ γοργά βήματα. 

Τὴν 3ην ἀπογευματινὴν οἱ ἀ- νάπηροί μας συνοδευόμενοι ὑπὸ ἀν ξιωματικῶν καὶ ὁπλιτῶν τῆς Τα ξιαρχίας, τοῦ Δημάρχου κ. Κοντοβραχνούδη, τοῦ Βουλευτοῦ κ. Λαυρεντίζη, τοῦ Ἐπάρχου κ. 'Α- θανασίου, τῶν Προσκόπων, τῶν Σχολείων, τῶν Ὁδηγῶν καὶ τῆς Μουσικής, ἀφίχθησαν εἰς τὴν ὀχυ ρὰν γραμμὴν «Μεταξά». Ἐκεῖ τοὺς ἀναπήρους μας μας ὑπεδέχθη ὑτ με τὰ τῶν στρατιωτών του ὁ Διοικη τὴς τῆς στρατιωτικής μονάδος, προσφέρων εἰς αὐτοὺς ἀνθοδέσμας, γλυκὰ καὶ τσιγάρα. Οι ἠρωϊκοί μας ἀνάπηροι προσέφερον μία ση · μαίαν, τὴν ὁποίαν ὑπὸ τοὺς ἤχους τῆς Μουσικῆς ἀνύψωσαν καὶ ἐν συ

νεχείᾳ ἐφρούρησαν ἐπὶ μίαν ώραν, ξεκουράζοντας ἔστω καὶ γιὰ λίγο τοὺς φρουροὺς τῶν συνόρων, ᾿Αντι προσωπεύων τὴν Βουλὴν τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἐφύλαξεν ὁ Βουλευτής κ. Λαυρεντίδης, στοὺς Δήμους ὁ Δήμαρχος κ. Κοντοβραχιονίδης καὶ τὸ Κράτος ὁ Έπαρχος κ. ᾿Αθαν νασίου. Τὴν 6ην ἀπογευματινὴν ὥραν, ἀφοῦ οἱ ἀνάπηροι ἐβεβαίωσαν τοὺς στρατιώτας ὅτι εἶναι, πρόθυμοι να δώσουν καὶ τὴν τελευταίαν των πνοήν διὰ τὴν Πατρίδα, καὶ οἱ γεν ναῖοι φαντάροι μας αντεπεσχέθη σαν ὅτι δὲν θὰ ἀφήσουν Βουλγα ρικό πόδι νὰ πατήσῃ τὴν Μακε δονικὴν γῆ, ἀνεχώρησαν διὰ Σιδη ρόκαστρον μὲ μὲ νέαν πίστιν διὰ διὰ τὴν Νίκην τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν Όπλων ὑπὸ τὴν πνοὴν τοῦ Βασιλέως μας καὶ τὴν κοινὴν προσπάθειαν ὅλων τῶν Ελλήνων.

Τὴν ἑπομένην οἱ ἀνάπηροί μας συναποκομίζοντες τὰς καλυτέρας τῶν ἐντυπώσεων ἀνεχώρησαν διὰ Θεσσαλονίκην φέροντες τὸν χαιρε τισμὸν τισμὸν τῶν τῶν ἀκριτῶν πρὸς τὸ Συ νέδριον, τῶν ἀναπήρων, τὴν ὑπό σχεσιν ὅτι οὐδεὶς βάρβαρος θὰ πε ράσῃ τὰ σύνορα τῆς αἰματοβαμ μένης καὶ χιλιοδοξασμένης Μακε δονίας μας καὶ τὸν χαιρετισμὸν τῆς Βορείου Ελλάδος πρὸς ὅλην τὴν Μεγ. Ελλάδα καὶ τὰ τέκνα της.

Eφημερία ΕΜΠΡΟΣ στις 8 Ιουνίου 1949

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