The President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, honoured 28-year-old Greek American Andreas Holevas on his last day as a Presidential Guard.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Holevas obtained a Greek passport to serve in the Greek Army and in particular in the Presidential Guard, “like his grandfather.”
On Tuesday at the President’s office, Sakellaropoulou thanked Holevas for his service.
"From a young age he listened to stories about his grandfather, who also served as an Evzone in the Royal Guard in 1937. They probably told him about the bravery of the Evzones. Perhaps, as a child, he, like all the Greek children of the Greek community, participated in the national holidays wearing the "tsolia", our national uniform. (...) What is certain is that the 28-year-old Andreas Holevas developed not only the self-evident emotional bond with the country of his ancestry, but also a deep connection with the meaning of ‘homeland," Sakellaropoulou posted on social media.
From Homer’s epic poems to Byzantine Empire’s final moments and from the Greek War of Independence to the modern Hellenic Republic- the Evzones- the elite light infantry of the Greek Army, have always stood proudly in history’s first line.
The duties of the Presidential Guard include:
- Guarding the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, Presidential Mansion and at the gate of the barracks 24 hours a day
- The official raising and lowering of the flag at the Acropolis
- Grand Change at The Monument of the Unknown Soldier on Sunday at 11am
- Guard of honour to the President of the Republic and to the leaders and ambassadors of foreign countries
Regardless of the weather conditions, from the hottest summer day through to snowfall, the Presidential Guard must complete their duties.
The young Greek-American "wore his uniform with pride, and served in the Presidential Guard for nine months," the president concluded.
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