Airport
of Ioannina t o be named “Pyrros”-Proposal
The
American Hellenic National Council supports the suggestion of the
President of Pan-Hellenic Federation of Florida to name Ioannina airport
“Pyrros” to honour the great Army Commander and King of Epirus.
The
suggestion was made to the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority Mr. J.
Stamatis. Initial response on the part of the Civil Aviation Authority was
positive and provided assurances that the proposal will be communicated to
the appropriate Greek Authorities.
In
his letter Mr Spyropoulos states:
“We
hereby express our support and interest in the proposal of the President
of the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Florida Mr. M. Servos to name the
Ioannina airport after Pyrros, the King and great Army Commander of
Epirus. Naming of public areas after heroes and using historic symbols of
Hellenism in practice should have been a national policy. A policy which
will consolidate and serve historical truth and will provide an answer to
those who attempt to distort the history of the world and to unfounded
claims. Renaming the airport will stir historical memories of the age-old
land of Epirus and will help raise the morale of residents in the area,
besides promoting the area. Respecting the historical memory of a people
is a trust for its future”.
The
proposal made by Mr. Servos is as follows:
“We
propose that the airport concerned be named into “Pyrros” after the
King of Epirus (318 – 272 BC). Pyrros was one of the most able army
commanders of antiquity and one of his major endeavours was his attempt to
unite all tribes of Epirus at that time. Occurrences of forging and
distorting Greek, and consequently world history, are too frequent.
Actions like the one proposed above will safeguard our symbols, names and
our glowing and voluminous history. By naming the airport after
“Pyrros” the history of Epirus will be projected and any claims by
neighbouring countries to this name will be avoided. As a practice, it is
in line with the naming of other airports such as those of Thessaloniki
(“Macedonia”), Corfu (“I. Kapodistrias”), Kos (“Hippocrates”)
etc. As Greeks, it is our duty to protect and promote our historical and
cultural legacy”.
