deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

I realize the Flag of Greece appears often in my posts. Today, October 28 is a special day for Greek people everywhere. It is known as ‘Ohi Day’.

“Ohi Day commemorates the rejection by the Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 October 1940 and the subsequent Hellenic counterattack against the invading Italian forces at the mountains of Pindus during the Greco-Italian War and Greek resistance during the Axis occupation.”

Once the Greek Prime Minister said ‘No’ (the Greek word OXI) the people of Greece spontaneously took to the streets in support of this bold refusal to bow to Mussolini/Hitler.

“Shortly after 03:00 am on 28 October 1940, the Italian ambassador to Greece, Emanuele Grazzi, came from a party in the Italian embassy in Athens and visited Ioannis Metaxas. He presented Metaxas with an ultimatum, “Allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain unspecified “strategic locations” or otherwise face war.” Metaxas allegedly answered with a single laconic word: όχι(No!). However, his actual reply was in French, “Alors, c’est la guerre!” (Then it is war!).”

Parades take place all over the Greek Islands and in many places where Greek people have migrated. All proud expressions of a people who stood up to fascism.