With a series of commemorative events, Lemnos will honour on April 28 the memory of those who fell in the Gallipoli Campaign, 111 years after one of the most dramatic chapters of the First World War.
The events, organised by the Regional Unit of Lemnos in cooperation with the Municipality of Lemnos, aim to highlight the historical role of the island as a key hub for the forces of the ANZACs and the Allies.
The programme of events will open at the East Mudros Military Cemetery with the arrival of officials, a memorial service and the laying of wreaths, while greetings will follow.
At the Moudros Cultural Association “Pavlos Kountouriotis”, a presentation will take place by students of Moudros Gymnasium titled ‘Young People Narrate the History of the ANZACs,’ offering a meaningful connection between historical memory and the new generation.
This will be followed by a speech by Air Vice-Marshal (ret.) Diogenis Tsipouridis on the First World War and the Gallipoli Campaign.
The second part of the events will take place at the Portianos Military Cemetery, with a memorial service and the laying of flowers and wreaths.
A central place in the programme is held by the speech of Greek-Canadian publisher and author Georgios Kostantellis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Protasis Pharmaceuticals and editor of the publication Lemnos: Historical and Cultural Heritage, who will develop the importance of historical memory in a speech titled ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’
The Gallipoli anniversary is a point of reference for both Greece and Australia.
This significance was also reflected in 2023, when the then Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley, visited Lemnos and took part in the commemorative ANZAC events, as well as in the ceremony for the creation of the Lemnos Remembrance Trail at the historic ‘Australian Pier.’
He was accompanied by the then-President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and the then-Deputy Minister of National Defence, Nikos Hardalias, in a visit that highlighted the enduring ties of Lemnos with Australia.
