“Many happy returns to everybody. We live touching moments today. We admired the worthy children of Greece marching before our eyes; Greece, of honour, duty and values.
We honoured our National Holiday recalling those supreme noble concepts of that time and adapting them to our current needs.
Now, when Greece has gone through the worst difficulties, let us all work together for the best that is to come, honouring our history and cultivating among us the national concord and unity which are necessary and demanded by the circumstances we experience.
Today with this military parade, which is glorious indeed and was attended by tens of thousands Athenians, but also through the media by the whole Greece and the Diaspora, we sent a message; a message of vigour and a message of peace.
The Hellenic Armed Forces rise to the occasion of their mission, always ready to respond to the supreme duty, which is to defend the country’s independence and integrity, but also Democracy itself, if the need may arise.
We sent a message of friendship towards our neighbourhood, but also a message of existence and presence of the Greek flag at all corners of our planet, wherever needed.
The Greek Armed Forces are the guarantors of our security. On the other hand, they are also our children. The admirable children, the men and women that marched in front of us, they are the children of the Greek people and they deserve recognition and respect since, despite the troubles that this period has reserved, despite the difficulties that this financial circumstance has enforced, they are loyal to their oath and duty.
This is the message they send to the entire Greece: a message of confidence, certitude and authority.
Greece characterised by crisis will not exist in a while. It will be replaced by Greece of pride, confidence and vigour. This is the message sent today by this grandiose parade and shared by all Greeks, in a spirit of unity and accord.
Many happy returns to all”.