The five people who died when a military helicopter crashed near the Paphos district village of Kouklia were remembered on the eve of the crash’s 22nd anniversary on Saturday.
A memorial service was held at the St Luke the Apostle church in Kouklia, which was attended by Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas.
Palmas spoke at the service, hailing the military service of the five who died, among whom was then National Guard chief Evangelos Florakis.
“Let us draw from their sacrifice the strength required. We will continue to honour them through our actions and keep their memory alive,” he said.
He said that July 10, 2002, the date on which the crash occurred, was a “tragic morning” and that “light did not succeed the dark and a black and heavy veil covered the Cypriot land, spreading heartbreak among our people”.
“The brilliant and radiant figures of the five fallen will forever illuminate our souls and the sky of our long-suffering homeland and will show us the way of selfless service. It remains for us to show ourselves worthy of their expectations,” he said.
He added that it is of “utmost necessity to maintain those standards, which will enable us to continue our fight unyieldingly until the final vindication”.
The crash occurred at 4.20am on July 10, 2002, with the Bell 206 helicopter which was transporting Florakis and the four other army personnel lost contact with air traffic control and subsequently fell into a ravine near Kouklia.
Then Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos said the team had been taking part in a night exercise.
