The Evzones, or Evzoni, (Greek: Εύζωνες, Εύζωνοι) is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Proedriki Froura (Presidential Guard), an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Άγνωστος Στρατιώτης) and the Presidential Mansion. The Evzones are also known, colloquially, as Tsoliades (Greek: Τσολιάδες; singular: Τσολιάς - Tsolias).
Though the Presidential Guard is a predominantly ceremonial unit, all Evzones are volunteers drawn from the Hellenic Army's Infantry, Artillery and Armoured Corps. Prospective Evzones are usually identified at the Army Recruit Training Centres during Basic Training; there is a minimum height requirement of 1.86 meters to join, and the soldier must serve a minimum of 6 months with an operational Army unit before beginning Evzone training.
The unit is famous around the world for its unique traditional uniform, which has evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their proven valour and peculiar dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier, especially among foreigners.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier refers to a grave in which the remains of an unidentified soldier are interred, dedicated to the common memories of all soldiers killed in any war. Such tombs can be found in many nations and are usually high-profile national monuments. Throughout history, many soldiers have died in wars without their remains being identified. Following the First World War, a movement arose to commemorate these soldiers with a single tomb, containing the body of one such unidentified soldier.
During the First World War, the British and French armies jointly decided to bury soldiers themselves in the form normally associated with religion.[vague] In Britain, under the Imperial War Graves Commission, Reverend David Railton had seen a grave marked by a rough cross while serving in the British Army as a chaplain on the Western Front, which bore the pencil-written legend "An Unknown British Soldier". He suggested (together with the French in their own country) the creation at a national level of a symbolic funeral and burial of an "Unknown Warrior", proposing that the grave should in Britain include a national monument in the form of what is usually, but not in this particular case, a headstone. The idea received the support of the Dean of Westminster and later from King George V, responding to a wave of public support.[citation needed] At the same time, there was a similar undertaking in France, where the idea was debated and agreed upon in Parliament.
Parody of "The Reason" by Hoobastank
(Ephesians 2:5-10; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-7; Galatians 2:16, 21; Romans 4:16, 5:2, 5:8, 11:5-6)
I'm not allergic to workin'
But many things religious people do
Are cause they think they're earnin'
A Heaven they must work their way into
But no one has to pay before they go
The Bible wants you to know
I've found salvation is free
And changed how I view good deeds
From readin' I started to do
In Ephesians chapter 2
It's not about our virtue
It's something that's a gift we get through grace
And all the things for good you do
Are just the icing you put on the cake
Ephesians 2:8 makes all that clear
That's why I'm leading you here
I've found Ephesians to read
It changed why I do good deeds
Salvation is not what we do
Are you readin' it too? Are you readin' it too?
Are you readin' it too? Are you readin' it too?
Another perfect person
Was Heaven-sent to do those things for you
And so no one who's saved can ever boast
In any one but the Lord
I've found salvation's a tree
And faith's what you use for seed
But grace is the start of the roots
And good deeds are just fruit
1:9 Second Timothy shows
And Titus 3:5 says it's so
And Romans provides added proof
In 11:6 too
Ephesians 2:8-10
Speak it softly, I will hear you
Through your words are insincere
All your talk amounts to nothing
And that nothing's not for me
Through a thousand smooth
Your voice still rings in my ears
If you'd remember who you were
I could take hell out of your care
I could give you all I am
No more syllables to hide us
Fate dead within our hands
No more shadows and contortions
We have run out of lies
I could leave you undefended
Always hurting always wrong
Leave you wanting and dependent
On a hope that'd let you down
But still your voice retains the phantom
Of all you wanted to be
I could give you all I am
Say my name
No more words to hide us
Fate dead within our hands
No more shadows and contortions
We have run out of lies
No more syllables to hide us