OCHI Day National anniversary celebrated throughout Greece

  Armored vehicle drivers salute as they pass members of the Presidential Guard standing in front of the area occupied by President Karolos Papoulias and other dignitaries during yesterday’s military parade in Thessaloniki to mark Ochi Day, the anniversary of the day in 1940 when Greece refused to give in to Benito Mussolini’s Italy. Papoulias said that the day should inspire the Greek people about the ‘endless possibilities’ they possess.

The October 28 National holiday was celebrated with parades throughout Greece on Sunday, with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias expressing his optimism that the country can achieve any goals its sets, no matter how ambitious, because it has endless abilities, provided it leaves behind self-centred practices and attitudes, speaking after the traditional military parade in Thessaloniki.

The Thessaloniki parade was also attended by political party representatives, the Armed Forces leadership, MPs, and foreign diplomats. In a statement after the parade, President Papoulias said that “on such days, we devote more time to think about what the struggling Greek people accomplished”.

Student parades in Athens > The central student parade was held in downtown Athens, attended by Education Minister Evrypides Stylianidis, in central Syntagma Square, with the participation also of the country’s Special Olympics athletes, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra.