Greek psychiatrist and former New Democracy MEP Stelios Kympouropoulos has shared a moving childhood drawing to mark Greece\u2019s October 28 national anniversary, recalling a time when he could still move his hands and create artwork for the school celebration.<\/h3>\n
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The drawing, which he posted on social media, features two Greek flags beneath the word \u201cOXI\u201d (\u201cNO\u201d), alongside a laurel wreath. The name \u201cStelios\u201d appears in the upper-right corner.<\/p>\n
In the accompanying caption, Kympouropoulos explained that he had created the drawing during primary school, writing: \u201cBack when I could still move my hands and make my school drawing for the October 28 anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cImagine how precious this photograph is to me!\u201d he added, concluding his message with the words: \u201cMany happy returns, our Greece!\u201d<\/p>\n
Ta Nea backed his bid to carry the Greek flag<\/strong><\/p>\n The newspaper Ta Nea<\/em> previously highlighted Kympouropoulos\u2019 struggle to participate in school parades, documenting his story when he was 15.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ta Nea<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIf 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,\u201d his classmates and teachers told the newspaper.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cthe pencil can achieve more than the sword\u201d.<\/p>\n Kympouropoulos went on to overcome significant obstacles, qualify as a doctor and win election to the European Parliament with a record number of votes.<\/p>\n (Source: AMNA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n