Επιστολή προς τον Πρόεδρο της Ερανικής Επιτροπής για την Ενίσχυση των Στρατιωτικών Ναυτικών 1976- Letter to the President of the Fundraising Committee for the Strengthening of the Military Seamen 1976
Abstract
The message, addressed to the President of a fundraising committee for military seamen, expresses gratitude for their support towards a decision by the Municipality of Kalymnos to provide a ship to the Navy and name it after Kalymnos. It highlights Kalymnians’ historical contributions to national liberation movements and emphasises the importance of defending freedom. The letter calls for unity and cooperation in defending the homeland, rejecting any notion of fundraising for this cause. It concludes with a firm stance on honouring the homeland and preserving freedom.
Translation
Dear Mr. President of the Fundraising Committee for the Strengthening of the Military Seamen, and esteemed members, welcome brothers of Kalymnios.
On behalf of the Joint Committee of the Brotherhood of Kalymnia “DAWIN” and the Kalymnos Athletic Club, we warmly thank everyone for your presence here, which aims to reinforce the decision made by the Municipality of Kalymnia for Kalymnos to offer a ship to our Naval Forces and to give it her name.
It was not possible for the aforementioned decision to leave any Kalymnian soul unaffected, no matter where it is in the world. Kalymnians have always been at the forefront of the National Liberation Movement. During the Second World War, in the Middle East, almost all the sailors were Kalymnians who manned our Navy. Today, we find that after the invasion of Cyprus by our former allies the Turks, under the guidance of those who supposedly protect us, or our homeland, it has suffered and continues with the exit to the white sea, putting the freedom of our islands at risk.
*We have a duty to stand in the battles of every struggle, whether economic or otherwise, offering even our bodies if our Motherland were to ask for this. Our happiness today is intertwined with freedom, that divine gift for the acquisition of which many tears and rivers of blood were shed, FREEDOM. This should be our legacy to our children, our grandchildren.
And now, I address the Boards of Directors of the Societies and Fraternities, both Internal and External, and we are ready to cooperate with you, as you approve, in the form of free offerings, at least one day’s work per year, for the defense of the Fatherland. Let us convene a general assembly of our members for the ratification of the aforementioned decision. No one will perish due to a lack of effort. Ιt is our homeland, and she will not try to raise funds for OUR FREEDOM.
KALYMNOS, August 20, 1976
Aleksandros Aleksiou
On behalf of the Joint Committee of the Brotherhood of Kalymnia “DAWIN” and the Kalymnos Athletic Club, we warmly thank everyone for your presence here, which aims to reinforce the decision made by the Municipality of Kalymnia for Kalymnos to offer a ship to our Naval Forces and to give it her name.
It was not possible for the aforementioned decision to leave any Kalymnian soul unaffected, no matter where it is in the world. Kalymnians have always been at the forefront of the National Liberation Movement. During the Second World War, in the Middle East, almost all the sailors were Kalymnians who manned our Navy. Today, we find that after the invasion of Cyprus by our former allies the Turks, under the guidance of those who supposedly protect us, or our homeland, it has suffered and continues with the exit to the white sea, putting the freedom of our islands at risk.
*We have a duty to stand in the battles of every struggle, whether economic or otherwise, offering even our bodies if our Motherland were to ask for this. Our happiness today is intertwined with freedom, that divine gift for the acquisition of which many tears and rivers of blood were shed, FREEDOM. This should be our legacy to our children, our grandchildren.
And now, I address the Boards of Directors of the Societies and Fraternities, both Internal and External, and we are ready to cooperate with you, as you approve, in the form of free offerings, at least one day’s work per year, for the defense of the Fatherland. Let us convene a general assembly of our members for the ratification of the aforementioned decision. No one will perish due to a lack of effort. Ιt is our homeland, and she will not try to raise funds for OUR FREEDOM.
KALYMNOS, August 20, 1976
Aleksandros Aleksiou
| Person |
Aleksiou, Aleksandros Aleksiou Magoulia, Irini Magoulias, Nikitas Magoulias, Themis |
| Transcription |
Αξιότιμε κύριε Πρόεδρε της Ερανικής Επιτροπής Ενίσχυσης του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού, μετά των Αξιοτίμων μελών σας, χαίρετε αδέλφια Καλύμνιοι. Εκ μέρους της Μικτής Επιτροπής της Αδελφότητος Καλυμνίων “ΝΤΑΓΟΥΙΝ” και του Καλυμνιακού Αθλητικού Κλάμπ, ευχαριστούμε θερμά όλους για την εδώ παρουσία σας, η οποία έχει σκοπό να ενισχύσει την υπό του Δήμου Καλυμνίων απόφαση, ώστε η Κάλυμνος να προσφέρει ένα πλοίο στο Πολεμικό μας Ναυτικό και να του δώσει το όνομά της. Δεν ήταν δυνατόν η εν λόγω απόφαση να αφήσει ασυγκίνητη κάθε Καλύμνικη ψυχή, οπουδήποτε είναι στον κόσμο. Πάντα οι Καλύμνιοι πρωτοστάτησαν στους Εθνικοαπελευθερωτικούς αγώνες. Κατά τον Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, στη Μέση Ανατολή, ήταν όλοι σχεδόν Καλύμνιοι ναύτες που υπηρέτησαν το Πολεμικό μας Ναυτικό. Σήμερα διαπιστώνουμε ότι μετά την εισβολή στην Κύπρο από τους πρώην συμμάχους μας Τούρκους, υπό την καθοδήγηση των από τους δήθεν προστάτες μας, η Πατρίς μας, έδεχθη πλήγμα και συνεχίζει με την έξοδο στην λευκή θάλασσα, θέτοντας σε κίνδυνο την ελευθερία των νήσων μας. *Εμείς έχουμε καθήκον να σταθούμε στις επάλξεις κάθε αγώνος, είτε οικονομικός είναι αυτός, είτε οτιδήποτε άλλος, προσφέροντας και τα κορμιά μας ακόμη, εάν η Πατρίς μας επιθυμεί τούτο. Η ευτυχία μας σήμερα είναι συνηφασμένη με την ελευθερία, το θείο αυτό δώρο για την απόκτηση του οποίου δάκρυα και ποτάμια αίματος εχύθηκαν, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑ. Αυτή θα πρέπει να είναι η κληρονομία μας, προς τα παιδιά μας, τα εγγόνια μας. Και τώρα, απευθύνομαι προς τα Διοικητικά Συμβούλια των Σωματείων και Αδελφοτήτων, τόσο του Εσωτερικού όσο και του Εξωτερικού, και είμαστε έτοιμοι να συνεργαστούμε μαζί σας, ώστε να εγκρίνετε τη δωρεάν προσφορά, τουλάχιστον μιας ημέρας εργασίας ετησίως, για την άμυνα της Πατρίδας και να προσκαλέσουμε γενικές συνελεύσεις των μελών μας, για την επικύρωση της εν λόγω απόφασης. Κανείς δεν προκειμένου να αποθάνει από την ενέργεια αυτήν. Η πατρίς μας δεν είναι επιτήδειος να κάνει εράνους για την ελευθερία μας. ΚΑΛΥMNΟΣ, 20 Αυγούστου 1976 Aλέξανδρος Αλεξίου |
| Subject | |
| Category | |
| Keywords |
Greeks in Australia |
| Current holder | |
| Access rights |
Permission required |
| Language | |
| Physical format |
Letters |
| Date accessed |
2024-06-10 |
| Translator |
Eva Boleti |
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