Memorial Day Commemoration, Thessaloniki, May 28, 2024
By Linda Manney
On Tuesday, May 28, a commemoration of the American Memorial Day holiday was held on a balmy spring day at Evangelistria Cemetary, central Thessaloniki, across from Aristotle University at the foot of Old Town / Ano Poli.
Serene and stately, Evangelistria Cemetary was established in the 19th century and was used as a Christian burial grounds from the late 19th to the early 20th century. Evangelistria Cemetary currently serves as an important landmark in the historical and architectural development of Thessaloniki as a modern Greek city.
The memorial service, organized by the Joint US Organizations of Greece (JUSORG), was held in front of the cenotaph erected to honor Greek American soldiers who lost their lives fighting in World War II.
Tom Maguire, Major, US Army (Retired) and President, Association of the United States Army, Hellenic Chapter, served as the Master of Ceremony, and opened the commemoration with a brief history of the Memorial Day holiday.
Major Maguire explained that Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1868 to honor the 700,000 soldiers, both Union and Confederate, who lost their lives in the American Civil War. The honor continued into the 20th century and included the fallen soldiers of World War I, World War II, and any other wars which involved American soldiers. The celebration, originally called Decoration Day, was held at the end of May so that family and friends of the departed could decorate their loved ones’ gravesites with freshly blooming spring flowers. After WWII, the holiday was more commonly known as Memorial Day, and was designated an official American holiday by an act of Congress and signed into law in 1971 by 37th U.S. President Richard M. Nixon.
After Major Maguire finished his introduction, he invited various dignitaries to share their thoughts on the significance of the holiday. The first, Father Rafail, Head Priest of Evangelistria Cemetary, delivered a benediction to bless the souls of the departed.
Father Rafail was followed by representatives of various organizations, including Nick Arvanitis, President, AHEPA Chapter 41 Kalamaria, Nick Papadopoulos, Commander, American Legion Post GC-01-Athens, and Consul Salina Rico, Deputy Principal Officer, US Consulate, Thessaloniki, who emphasized the strong bonds of friendship that have united Greeks and Americans, both soldiers and civilians, across the decades.
After commentaries were delivered by four key representatives, several wreaths were placed on the cenotaph to honor the fallen soldiers.
Guests were then asked to observe a moment of silence in memory of the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the US Military. The ceremony was concluded as guests listened to a recording of the well-known song Taps.
The ceremony was simple yet eloquent, leading guests to reflect on sacrifices made by US military personnel of the past. Contemporary members of the US Military, C-Corps (GRC), and NATO in Thessaloniki, representing current stability and security, were also a welcome presence at the Memorial Day commemoration.
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