At the visitation ceremony, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the General Department of Politics, leaders of Military Region 5, units of the Military Zone, leaders of Da Nang city, and other units. Relevant people and people came to offer flowers and incense to show their infinite condolences to Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap.

The scene of the memorial ceremony for Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap. Photo: VNA

Reading the eulogy at the ceremony, Major General Truong Thien To, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 5, Head of the Funeral Organizing Committee said, Hero of the Kostas People's Armed Forces Nguyen Van Lap was born in Greece on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. But throughout his youth, comrade Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap lived and fought with his comrades and comrades in Vietnam which has become a second homeland for the Greek soldier.

A minute of silence at the memorial ceremony for Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap. Photo: VNA)

Comrade Kostas Nguyen Van Lap passed away on June 25, 2021, in Athens, Greece, at the age of 94, following a protracted illness, despite being attended to and cared for by medical professionals, nurses, and his family.

According to the wishes of the comrade and his family, in boundless grief, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, the Command of Military Region 5, along with his teammates and his family, solemnly held a memorial ceremony and sent him off to rest in peace at Military Zone 5 Cemetery.

Comrade Kostas Nguyen Van Lap was born in 1927 in Athens, Greece. In 1943, when he was just 16 years old, Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap was forced to join the army to serve the Nazi regime. After World War II ended, he was drafted into the French legionnaires.

In February 1946, Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap was sent to Vietnam to serve in the French army. Witnessing the barbaric crimes of the French colonialists against the Vietnamese people, well aware of the just nature of the Vietnamese people's resistance against the French, Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap was enlightened to the revolution and made the most important and correct decision in his life.

In June 1946, Kostas Nguyen Van Lap escaped from the French legionnaires to a free zone in Binh Thuan province and joined the Viet Minh forces in the resistance against the French colonialists. Since then, he became a friend, a comrade of the Vietnamese People, everyone calls him a comrade with the very dear and close Vietnamese name: Kostas Nguyen Van Lap.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese paid tribute to Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap. Photo: VNA

Comrade Kostas Nguyen Van Lap was tasked with conducting enemy operations on the battlefields of Quang Nam and Da Nang during the early stages of the resistance war against the French. He has been successful in getting 40 adversaries to lay down their weapons and go home to their families. He consistently displayed bravery and valor in conflict, accomplishing many remarkable accomplishments, etc.

Comrade Kostas Nguyen Van Lap was awarded many noble awards by the Party and the State of Vietnam such as the First-class Victory Medal, the Friendship Order, the Third-class Victory Medal, and the Second-class Resistance Order.

Commemoration ceremony and see off Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap to his final resting place. Photo: VNA)

In particular, in 2010, he was recognized as Vietnamese nationality by our State. In 2013, he was honored to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. He is the first foreigner to date to be conferred this noble title.

Major General Truong Thien To emphasized that the death of the revolutionary soldier Kostas Nguyen Van Lap has left great grief to his family, friends, as well as comrades, comrades, and the Vietnamese people. The Party and State have lost an excellent son, an exemplary "Uncle Ho's Army" soldier who lived fully for the collective and made great contributions to the cause of national liberation, construction, and defense of the country.

Commemoration ceremony and sending off Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis - Nguyen Van Lap to his final resting place. Photo: VNA)

Previously, in accordance with Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap's will, the Vietnamese Government worked with the Greek Government, his family, and other parties to arrange the transfer of his ashes to Vietnam while he was still alive.

Major General Truong Thien To, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 5, presided over the ceremony to receive the ashes of Hero of the People's Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis - Nguyen Van Lap on August 1st at the Da Nang International Airport.

Following the memorial service, Kostas Sarantidis-Nguyen Van Lap was carried in a funeral procession to the Military Region 5 Cemetery in Da Nang, where he was laid to rest as a Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

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