|
GOUVES: A WASH OUT
In an
overwhelming display of patriotic spirit, hundreds of kids from schools in
the Gouves
Township
were ready to brave the inclement weather to march in the annual Ohi Day
parade, marking the 69th anniversary of
Greek Prime Minister Ioannis
Metaxas' rejection of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Mussolini on
October 28, 1940.
The kids,
with their families, as well as many would-be spectators, huddled under
trees and in the lobby of the town hall waiting for the rains to subside so
the festivities could begin. At 11.04 the official word was given by Vice
Mayor Evangelos Hatzakis that the parade was cancelled.
Many of
kids were visibly disappointed, and said they were ready to march even in
the rain. However, parents seemed to heave a collective sigh of relief, many
expressing concern that their kids would have gotten soaking wet, a problem
anytime, but especially now in the midst of the flu- season.
Meanwhile, officials of our other
townships didn't let the weather dampen their spirits, as the parades
marched on.
|
ALIKARNASSOS: WALKING IN THE RAIN
With raised umbrellas, local officials, marchers and
hundreds of spectators lined the Irodotos street for the
township's annual Ohi Day spectacular, which included: a
special liturgy at the Aghios Nikolaos church; a
memorial prayer and deposit of wreaths at the Monument
of the Fallen, and then, of course, the
parade of
students, cultural groups and military units..
Present were Iraklion Prefect Vangelio Schinaraki;
Alikarnassos Mayor Vangelis Sisamakis; MPs from the
prefecture; military representatives and of course local
citizens. After the parade, the mayor, in his statement
on the meaning of the anniversary, characterized it as
"a day of memory and national unity."
|
|
HERSONISSOS: MARCHING ON
Groups from
Hersonissos, Analipsi, Koutouloufari, Pano Hersonissos and all the other
smaller villages around in the
Hersonissos
Township didn't allow the
rainy weather to cancel their festivities. Following a brief religious
ceremony and greetings from Mayor Yiorgos N.
Danelakis and former mayor Spiros Danellis, the Ohi Day Parade got underway
in all its splendour, as hundreds of spectators lined the rain-soaked
streets.
|
IRAKLION
SCHOOL
OF
ARTS
While some students of the Iraklion School of Arts in
Gournes were rained out in the Gouves parade others from
the same school strutted their stuff in the
Iraklion
parade.
|
