NEW YORK – Delphi AHEPA Chapter 25 and the owner of the renowned restaurant chain Kyma, Steve Tenedios, a brother of Delphi 25, honored Greek Volunteer Firefighters on November 9 with a magnificent dinner organized by Delphi AHEPA Chapter 25 and Tenedios, at the KYMA Flatiron location.

Theodore P. Klingos, Delphi Chapter 25 President, welcomed the group with a toast to thank them for their dedication to volunteerism and service. The dinner was attended by the executive members of Delphi Chapter 25 and well-known entrepreneurs. Among them were Argyris Argytakos, Lou Katsos, Haris Pateroulakis, Peter Stamos, Dennis Seretakos, Chris Karis, and Dr. Marinos Petratos.

From October 29 to November 5, for one week, a group of Greek Volunteer Firefighters was in the U.S. to participate in a cooperation program with the Union Fire District in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The Greek firefighters were welcomed by the Chief of the Fire Brigade Steven Pinch as well as fellow firefighters. During their visit Greek volunteer firefighters received extremely useful training on new technologies and know-how, and practice for emergency situations in real time.

From Greece came: Dimitrios Zervas – Vol. Fire Warrant Officer Penteli Fire Station

Athens and Vice President of Hellenic Volunteer Firefighters Association, Alexandros Zafiriou – 9th Athens Fire Station, Dimitrios Gkionakis – Vol. Penteli Fire Station, Athens, Georgios Pafliotis – 6th Athens Fire Station, Kathy Nadia Aimarios– 12th Athens Fire Station, Pavlos Kokkos – Vol. Hydra Fire Station, Stefanos Zafiriou – 9th Athens Fire Station, Georgios Nikolakakis – 6th Athens Fire Station, Sofia Tavantzopoulou – 9th Fire Station Athens, Charalambos Zacharis – 6th Athens Fire Station, Alexios Pantelidis– Kos Fire Station, Michael Sakkalis– Vol. Penteli Fire Station, Athens, Athanasios Arabatzis – 9th Athens Fire Station, Serafeim Tsiougris– 1st Athens Fire Station, Maria Vetra – Athens Fire Station and Georgios Chionidis – Photographer – Fire Brigade Headquarters.

During the evening, the Greek volunteer firefighters shared with us many interesting stories. One of the most remarkable is the story of a volunteer who described to us the horrors he experienced with the terrible fire in Mati and since then he decided to become a volunteer firefighter himself to help, as much as he can, to prevent such tragedies. Something that all these volunteers strive for with self-sacrifice every day, working tirelessly and offering, without any material reward, the best possible to their fellow citizens, with zeal and love.

This visit is the fourth of its kind. The first was in 2011, followed by another in 2015 and 2017. A similar visit was planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.