[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 33 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY: A NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION OF GREEK AND 
                           AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

  Mr. DOMENICI. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 25, Senate Resolution 56.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 56) designating March 25, 1997, as 
     ``Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of 
     Greek and American Democracy.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I ask unanimous consent the resolution and preamble be 
agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and 
any statements relating thereto appear at the appropriate place in the 
Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 56) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 56

       Whereas the ancient Greeks developed the concept of 
     democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was invested 
     in the people;
       Whereas the Founding Fathers of the United States of 
     America drew heavily uopn the political experience and 
     philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative 
     democracy;
       Whereas the founders of the modern Greek state modeled 
     their government after that of the United States in an effort 
     to best imitate their ancient democracy;
       Whereas Greece is one of the only three nations in the 
     world, beyond the former British Empire, that has been allied 
     with the United States in every major international conflict 
     this century;
       Whereas the heroism displayed in the historic world War II 
     Battle of Crete epitomized Greece's sacrifice for freedom and 
     democracy as it presented the Axis land war with its first 
     major setback and set off a chain of events which 
     significantly affected the outcome of World War II.
       Whereas these and other ideals have forged a close bond 
     between our two nations and their peoples;
       Whereas March 25, 1997 marks the 176th anniversary of the 
     beginning of the revolution which freed the Greek people from 
     the Ottoman Empire; and
       Whereas it is proper and desirable to celebrate with the 
     Greek people, and to reaffirm the democratic principles from 
     which our two great nations were born: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That March 25, 1997 is designated as ``Greek 
     Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and 
     American Democracy.'' The President is requested to issue a 
     proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
     observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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