THE LADY OF RO

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Vet ni berättelsen om "Lady of Ro"?

Ro is situated 3 miles north of Kastelloriso, and 73 milles southeast of Rhodes. It has a surface of 1.460 square meters and a coastal length of 8,682 meters.
On the island there is a chapel dedicated to Saint George, two small houses and a rain water well. The island belongs to the municipality of Kastelloriso (also called Megisti.)

THE LADY OF RO

In 1927, Kostas and Despina Achladiotes settled in Ro. They lived together till 1940, when her husband Kostas became seriously ill. In order to ask for help from Kastelloriso, Despina lit a fire. But Kostas didn't survive for long and he died in the boat while being transported to the doctor.

During the 2nd World War Despina remained in Ro. She refused to abandon the island even when Germans bombarded Kastellorizo and its inhabitants were forced to emigrate. This brave-hearted woman, the so called 'Lady of Ro' had been raising the Greek flag on her island every morning for forty years.
In August 1975, taking advantage of Despina's few days absence from Ro, the Turks raised their flag. They also raised a Turkish flag on Stroggyli. On Monday , 1st September 1975, the Greek Military vessel "G. PEZOPOULOS' arrived at Kastellorizo and raised the Greek flag again.
Since September 1975 Despina Achladiotes has received extended publicity. Honors have been paid to the woman of loneliness and resistance. Despina Achladiotes was honored by the Athens Academy, the Municipality of Rhodes, the Ministry of National Defence, the National Bank Of Greece, her compatriots and many others.
She died in Rhodes in 1982 and she was buried in her beloved Ro.
http://www.greece.org/poseidon/work/...canese/ro.html
http://www.greece.org/poseidon/work/islands2/top.html
http://www.greece.org/poseidon/top/

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