[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am honored to be a sponsor of the 
resolution designating March 25, 1996 as Greek Independence Day.
  On this, the 175th anniversary of Greek independence from the Ottoman 
Empire, we honor the courageous struggle by the Greeks to regain their 
freedom. After being ruled by the Ottoman Turks for four centuries, the 
people of Greece were able to restore democracy for the Nation where 
democracy was first born in the ancient world.
  The people of Greece have made extraordinary contributions to all 
nations of the world, and no country has benefited more from these 
contributions than the United States. It has been said that except for 
the blind forces of nature, nothing moves in this world which is not 
Greek in origin. Our Founding Fathers modeled our own system of 
democratic government on the basic principles of democracy of ancient 
Greece, and over 3-million Greek-Americans today continue to make 
valuable contributions to all aspects of American life. This 
resolution, in commemorating Greek Independence Day, also commemorates 
the close and enduring ties between our two nations. Long may they 
flourish.

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