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It is with feelings of respect, emotion and pride that we have gathered here today to pay our last respects to the brave son of our homeland, commando Christofi George of Charalambos and Irini. To escort to his final resting place a hero who did not reckon with death and sacrificed his life on the altar of his homeland, defending freedom and democracy. Christofi George returns today to his birthplace, to the land that gave birth to him, to be buried with the honours befitting a hero. His name is written in indelible ink in our history and in the pantheon of heroes of Cypriot freedom.
With the honours befitting a green-skunk commando who, as a reserve commando soldier, was present at the call of his homeland and did not think twice about it, leaving behind his wife Chrystalla and his only son, the then five-year-old Andreas.
Putting into practice the motto "Once a commando, always a commando", on the day of the invasion he put on his uniform and green beret and joined his squadron, the 32nd Commando Squadron, based at Agios Chrysostomos.
In the first phase of the invasion, the 32nd Commando Squadron, together with the 31st and 33rd, operated at Pentadaktylos. They participate in the capture of the Turkish fortifications at White Moutti, abandon them on the orders of their superiors, fight the battle of Alonagra and end up at Pachyammos.
On August 9, Christofi George, with his comrades-in-arms, is in the area of Pachyammos Kyrenia, where they man defensive positions of the National Guard. It is in that area that the second phase of the invasion finds them. Weary, wounded in the legs due to the hardships of war, the dawn of 14 August finds Christofi participating in the defence of the Turkish attacks.
The invaders, using a large number of tanks and under the cover of their air force, launched a large and coordinated attack against the positions of 32 M.K. After fierce battles, where the legendary lonjazis put into practice the oath they took defending the territories of the Republic of Cyprus to the last drop of their blood, and under the fear of being trapped by Turkish superiority, they were called to regroup in the area of Kythrea, marching through Klepini.
Christofi suffers from the wounds on his legs.
Christofi suffers from the wounds on his legs. On this last march as a commando he is called upon to carry a box of ammunition for the squadron. He is forced to spend the night in the Armenmonastery with a group of other soldiers. At dawn on 15 August he moves with his group towards Aleuka and on the road from Lefkoniko to Akantho they meet a tractor.
Two soldiers were riding on it and Christofis and another soldier who was having health problems also climbed aboard. The tractor with the four soldiers pulls away. His fellow soldiers see the tractor pull away and proceed on the main Lefkonoiko - Akantho road between the Turkish Cypriot villages of Artemi and Platani. At some point they see it stop, but it is now too far away and they cannot see what happened.
This was the last time Christofi and the other three soldiers were seen alive. Later, according to testimony, the tractor in question was seen driving around with Turkish soldiers. Since then, none of the four have given signs of life.
In vain his family, his parents Charalambos and Irene, his wife Chrystalla and his then 5-year-old son Andreas waited to hear from him. This news was delayed for almost half a century, but sadly his parents passed away. The remains of the gentleman we are burying today were found in the exhumations that took place in the area of Lefkoniko in 2022 and subsequently anthropological and DNA tests were carried out, based on which the identity of his bones has been established.
Heroism, daring and self-sacrifice are not general and vague concepts, but acts coming from brave, bright and blessed people, such as Christofi.
Today, half a century after the tragedy of 1974, the cycle of uncertainty and drama experienced by his family is finally closing. The time of farewell and parting has come. We are all here with his family, who did not have the chance to rejoice, and his son, who did not have the chance to see him grow up, to bid him farewell. He is returning after half a century to the bowels of the land that gave birth to him and which he defended with passion, bravery, loyalty and devotion. An example of bravery. A proud, proud, courageous fighter who did not faint in the face of adversity, who fought and defended the freedom of our homeland. He returns immortal along with the rest of the brave comrades-in-arms, heroes of the 32MK. The land of Potamitissa opens its arms to welcome him, with due honors. Honours of a heroic commando who fell for faith and country.
In conclusion, respected relatives of the hero, I would like to address you. To his wife Chrystalla, his son Andreas and his sisters Maria, Panagiota and Androula. I know that neither words nor any manifestations can soothe your pain, your immense and inconsolable sorrow for the fate of your loved one.
But the legacy left by Christofi is a model of pride, an example of bravery, self-sacrifice, principles and values, and shows all of us that for these brave men, like Christofi George, we must continue to strive to determine the fate of the last of our missing persons.
We ought to keep his memory unquenched and pass on to the new generation his love and devotion for the native land.
The sacrifice of Christofis Georgios, as well as the other heroically fallen blockaders who are included in the list of eminent heroes of Cypriot history who with virtue and daring offered their lives selflessly on the altar of our freedom and democracy, is a huge debt. On the one hand, we owe it to never forget their sacrifice and on the other hand, to fight for the liberation and reunification of our homeland.
George, our hero, our hero, today we all humbly and modestly bid you farewell. Our respect, admiration, appreciation and pride will accompany you forever.
May your memory be eternal and the earth that will cover you be light.
(RM/GS/NG)
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