MYTILENE – The impressive parade included disabled people and war victims, National Resistance fighters, representatives of local cultural clubs, students, volunteer organizations, and guides and scouts associated with units of the Armed Forces. The celebration was held with all solemnity in the city of Mytilini, the capital of the renowned East Aegean island of Lesvos today, Tuesday, November 8, the anniversary of the liberation of the island from the Turks.

In the presence of the Deputy Minister of National Defense Nikos Hardalias, the parade took place at noon on the city’s waterfront as part of the centennial-plus-one-decade festivities, 110 years after the Balkan wars.

In the glorious year of 1912, Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis sailed to the island on the renowned heavy cruiser Averof along with other warships, and after the Greek fleet landed on the island, he forced the Turks to hand over the administration of the island to the Greek state.

Earlier this morning, the anniversary celebrations began with a procession and flag raising at the castle of Mytilene.