New York: In New York, AHEPA Delphi Chapter No.25 and the owner of the renowned restaurant chain "KYMA", Steve Tenedios, honored the Greek Volunteer Firefighters with a warm welcome and a magnificent dinner in the luxurious areas of the restaurant "KYMA FLATIRON" in Manhattan.
The dinner was attended by executive members of AHEPA Delphi Chapter No.25 and well-known entrepreneurs. Among them, Mr. Argyris Argytakos, Mr. Lou Katsos, Mr Theodore Klingos, Mr. Haris Pateroulakis, Mr. Chris Karis, Dr. Marinos Petratos and the Hellenic Daily News with its owner Evageline Plakas.
From Saturday,October 29 to Saturday, November 5, for one week, a group of Greek Volunteer Firefighters was in the US to participate in a cooperation program with the Union Fire District in South Kingstown. The Greek firefighters were welcomed by the Chief of the Fire Brigade Steven Pinch as well as fellow firefighters.
From Greece came: ZERVAS DIMITRIOS - Vol. Fire Warrant Officer Penteli Fire Station Athens & Vice President of Hellenic Volunteer Firefighters Association, ZAFIRIOU ALEXANDROS – 9th Athens Fire Station, GKIONAKIS DIMITRIOS – Vol. Penteli Fire Station, Athens, PAFLIOTIS GEORGIOS – 6th Athens Fire Station, AIMARIOS KATHY NADIA – 12th Athens Fire Station, KOKKOS PAVLOS – Vol. Hydra Fire Station, ZAFIRIOU STEFANOS – 9th Athens Fire Station, NIKOLAKAKIS GEORGIOS – 6th Athens Fire Station, TAVANTZOPOULOU SOFIA – 9th Fire Station Athens, ZACHARIS CHARALAMBOS - 6th Athens Fire Station, PANTELIDIS ALEXIOS - Kos Fire Station, SAKKALIS MICHAEL - Vol. Penteli Fire Station, Athens, ARABATZIS ATHANASIOS - 9th Athens Fire Station, TSIOUGRIS SERAFEIM - 1st Athens Fire Station, VETRA MARIA - Athens Fire Station and CHIONIDIS GEORGIOS - Photographer - Fire Brigade Headquarters.
In discussions between Greek volunteer firefighters and the Hellenic Daily News, the volunteer Greek 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. The first was in 2011 and then in 2015 and 2017. A similar visit was planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
During their visits, Greek volunteer firefighters receive extremely useful training on new technologies and know-how and practice for emergency situations in real time.
Their trip had the best epilogue on Wednesday afternoon, November 9, at the famous New York restaurant "KYMA FLATIRON" organized by the AHEPA Delphi Chapter No.25 and the owner of the restaurant chain, Steve Tenedios.
