[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 36 (Friday, March 25, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, tonight I will deliver remarks on the 
occasion of Greek Independence Day. I ask that a copy of these remarks 
be printed in the Record.
  The remarks follow:

Remarks by Senator John H. Chafee on Greek Independence Day, March 25, 
                          1994, Providence, RI

       Good evening--and happy Independence Day! You will be 
     pleased to know that the President has signed into law an act 
     of Congress declaring today, ``Greek Independence Day--a 
     Celebration of American and Greek Democracy!''
       It is fitting, I think, to celebrate Greece and America 
     together. Thomas Jefferson said, ``to the ancient Greeks * * 
     * we are all indebted for the light which led ourselves out 
     of Gothic darkness.'' Greece is the birthplace of democracy; 
     the American experiment was modeled on her invention.
       173 years ago, Greece began her own quest for independence 
     from the Ottoman Empire, and drew inspiration from the 
     American Revolution.
       In the twentieth century, our two histories have become 
     even more entwined. We are allies: Greece is one of only 
     three nations in the world, outside the former British 
     empire, to have allied itself with the United States in every 
     major international conflict this century.
       At the same time, many Greek people immigrated to the 
     United States, thus enriching this country with their energy, 
     intelligence, and rich and vibrant culture. I was astounded 
     to learn that in the early 1900's, one in every four Greek 
     males between the ages of 15 and 45 departed for the United 
     States.
       Now, our two nations are cooperating on the somber matter 
     of the war in Bosnia. America and Greece share a strong 
     interest in securing peace and stability in the Balkans.
       Today we pay tribute to the contributions Greeks make to 
     American life, both as productive citizens of this country, 
     and as citizens of our staunch friend and NATO ally.
       The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote aptly, ``We are all 
     Greeks! Our laws, our literature, our religion, our art, have 
     their roots in Greece.'' Today, let us all be Greek!

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