Stelios Shares Moving Childhood Memory for October 28 Anniversary

Greek psychiatrist and former New Democracy MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos has shared a moving childhood drawing to mark Greece’s October 28 national anniversary, recalling a time when he could still move his hands and create artwork for the school celebration.

The drawing, which he posted on social media, features two Greek flags beneath the word “OXI” (“NO”), alongside a laurel wreath. The name “Stelios” appears in the upper-right corner.

In the accompanying caption, Kympouropoulos explained that he had created the drawing during primary school, writing: “Back when I could still move my hands and make my school drawing for the October 28 anniversary.”

“Imagine how precious this photograph is to me!” he added, concluding his message with the words: “Many happy returns, our Greece!”

Ta Nea backed his bid to carry the Greek flag

The newspaper Ta Nea previously highlighted Kympouropoulos’ struggle to participate in school parades, documenting his story when he was 15.

Doctors diagnosed him with spinal muscular atrophy at 14 months old. Despite his outstanding academic performance, a 1974 law prevented students with physical disabilities from participating in national anniversary parades. The legislation excluded people with physical impairments or disadvantages who did not meet its standards for an impeccable general appearance.

As a second-year junior high school student, Kympouropoulos missed the October 28 parade in 1998. A few months later, however, his school supported him in participating as a flag attendant in the March 25 parade.

For the following OXI Day anniversary, he sought to carry the national flag as the top-performing student at his school in Koropi, southeast of Athens.

Ta Nea supported his effort, publishing a full-page report and highlighting his story on its front page. His classmates and teachers advocated for him to serve as flag-bearer, with plans to secure the flag to his wheelchair.

“If it is an honour for him to carry it, it is also an honour for us, and ultimately an honour for everyone, to have such a child carry the flag and make us proud,” his classmates and teachers told the newspaper.

The report also challenged the exclusion of students with disabilities, asking whether intellectual stature should count as part of Greek courage and recalling the school lesson that “the pencil can achieve more than the sword”.

Kympouropoulos went on to overcome significant obstacles, qualify as a doctor and win election to the European Parliament with a record number of votes.

(Source: AMNA)

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