Brazil Navy Medal “MEDALHA da MARINHA” bestowed in Greece.
On August 25, on board the Brazilian Navy Training Ship “BRASIL” docked for an official visit at the port of Piraeus, the Commander of the 1st Navy Command Vice-Admiral Claudio Portugal de Viveiros bestowed on Greek and Brazilian Personalities the prestigious award with distinction, “Medalha amigo da Marinha”, {Friend of the Navy Medal} and the accompanying Diploma, one of the official Navy Medals of Brazil instituted in 1966.
The solemn awarding ceremony was held under the presidency of Brazilian Navy Commander of the ship, Captain Gustavo Calero Garriça Pires. The ceremony opened with the awarding ceremony and the decoration procedure and closed with a reception on board for local Brazilians and friends of Brazil. The Decoration Ceremony was officially attended by HE the, Brazilian Ambassador to Greece, Honorable Cesario Melantonio Neto, many Diplomats, Consuls, Officers, Scientists, Officials and Citizens from Greece, Brazil and many other countries.
The reasoning for the distinction and decoration was based on the coordinated actions of a joint-group of 8 accredited persons that led to the salvation of the life and physical integrity of a 23-year-old Brazilian Navy Cadet Officer who suffered a severe injury last year in Greece. The immediate special medical assistance provided to him in Greece both in Mykonos and at the Red Cross Hospital in Athens, as well as the whole incident management in the middle of August proved life-saving for the young military. The patient is still recovering in a significantly improved condition in Brazil today.
Commander Gustavo Garrica said: “Our Navy’s Friendship Medal is the highest distinction to be given by us. It is a symbol of gratitude to the personalities and institutions, civilians or military personnel regardless of nationality who have played a distinctly prominent role in their operational relationship with the Brazilian Navy. It is a simple tribute to those important people who have benefited us in time of peace or war, especially when we are so far away from our Homeland. Through this gesture, Brazil is grateful to Greece for our valuable friendship. Greece is deep in our hearts. Nevertheless here today, the Navy wishes to also acknowledge and sincerely thank among many more persons, the Brazilians involved in this incident, for helping bring this very complicated situation to a successful end. Please all and each one of you accept our recognition and gratitude for your help.”
Ambassador Cesario Melantonio Neto added: “We welcome the Navy Training Ship “Brasil” here in Piraeus, Greece and wish the Brazilian Navy the best for the health of your colleague. Greeks have been known for their friendly and hospitable attitude to all foreigners when it is needed. We congratulate you on your successes and consider you friends.
Dr. Ioannis Lyras in his reply said, “This honor demonstrates the generosity of my very big and very beautiful second Country, Brazil, and it motivates me to dedicate myself even more as its Honorary Consul in Piraeus and as a Medical Doctor-plastic surgeon, in enhancing and upgrading the friendship between the two countries. I am very glad that a seriously injured colleague of yours was actually rescued with the help of all the medical and diplomatic staff, Brazilian and Greek, specially the vascular surgeon Director at the Red Cross Hospital Nikolaos Besias MD and Minister Counselor Flavio Goldman from the Brazilian Embassy in Athens. We all sincerely believed in the rescue of the patient. By collaborating intensively and harmoniously and taking decisive care of him here, thank God he is now recovering much healthier in Brazil. I am deeply moved today. This is one special day for me to remember. Thank you”.
*More on the Medal: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medalha_Amigo_da_Marinha
