-
.
- Ελληνικά
Today we pay a minimum tribute to those who gave their lives in the front line of duty, for the safety and protection of citizens. To those who, both in wartime and in peacetime, paid the ultimate price, that of their lives, for upholding law and order, defending freedom, justice and democracy in our country, placing their duty to society and their country above their own personal interests.
Today we honour the thousands of police officers and firefighters around the world, who every year sacrifice their own lives on the altar of duty, in their daily struggle to preserve and ensure law and order and the safety of their fellow citizens. A struggle which is common throughout the world and which knows no borders, cultural or civilizational differences.
It is with deep emotion and with a special sense of pride that we commemorate today our police officers and firefighters, whose actions have earned them a worthy place in the pantheon of heroes and who did not cower in the face of danger, fulfilling in the most sacred way their oath to society and to their country.
Although honoured today, they are absent. Their sacrifice and their contribution to society are indelible. Our debt to this special category of our fellow human beings, who at the critical moment did not remain indifferent, who went beyond their usual and daily duties, who succeeded with their actions in giving new meaning to the concepts of altruism and philanthropy, is immense.
Dear members of the Police and Fire Service,
In an ever-changing socio-political environment and rapid technological developments, and given the rise of unprecedented security challenges both at international and national level, including asymmetric threats, your role undoubtedly becomes even more important and at the same time difficult in a now diversified working environment.
The State has entrusted you with ensuring the highly critical area of public safety and the protection of human life, and the expectations of citizens and the demand for security and law and order are very high.
At the same time, the State has a great responsibility to continue to actively support your work and to work intensively both for the logistical and human resources strengthening of your Services and for their modernization and reorganization.
I therefore take this opportunity to assure you that both the Government and I personally will actively support your work and will work with all my strength to ensure that the citizens of our country have the security services they deserve, and that the members of the Police and Fire Brigade themselves feel proud of the Corps in which they serve.
Your colleagues honoured today, with their attitude to life, are a timeless moral model of duty, signalling bravery, courage, determination, but above all love for people and the willingness to contribute to society.
We are all called upon to rise to the occasion and reflect on what our true duty demands. That duty which prompted those honoured to sacrifice what was most precious to them. A duty defined by the words "conscientiousness", "honesty", "discipline" and "respect".
They will always be present in our memory and in our hearts as worthy and shining examples for all of us and future generations.
Their eternal memory.
(NZ/GS)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
