[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7182-H7183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE HELLENIC DANCERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest strengths of our great 
Nation is the diversity of our people, cultural, religions, and 
heritage. Every American has a story to tell of where their family is 
from. Whether you can trace your roots back to a particular native 
American tribe or to another country, maybe across the sea, many of us 
seek out ways to preserve what has been passed down to us so that we 
may pass it along to the next generation.
  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Hellenic Dancers of New 
Jersey, a group that has dedicated themselves to perpetuating Greek 
culture through dance. For those of us, including myself, that are of 
Greek ancestry, the service this group provides is invaluable. Aside 
from performing the dances of Greece, the Hellenic Dancers are 
committed to researching, documenting and educating others in the Greek 
heritage.
  The dancers are a group of Greek descendants that travel each week 
without compensation from every part of central and northern New Jersey 
to perform and share the Greek culture. They have also ventured outside 
of New Jersey, from coast to coast in this Nation, with their music and 
dance recognizing the spirit of Greeks that have gone before, the 
Greeks that have brought so much to this country, and those Greek-
Americans living here today.
  Over the past 25 years, the group has grown tremendously. What began 
with a few members now numbers well into the hundreds of selfless 
individuals who share the songs, dances, and traditions that have been 
passed along to them.
  Greece has survived through a great deal of turmoil over the years 
and has reached maturity because its people, proud, freedom-loving, 
God-fearing and peaceful, have nourished and upheld the ideals on which 
their nation was founded. It is this heritage that we, the

[[Page H7183]]

thousands of Greek-Americans, bring to the United States and share with 
our fellow citizens.
  I would like to congratulate Father Jim Chakalos and his wife Eleni 
Chakalos, who is the group's dance director and codirector Vasilis 
Brembos in their efforts.
  Greece has sent some of its brightest to the shores of America to 
pursue dreams in this the land of opportunity, and I applaud the 
Hellenic Dancers for giving those Americans of Greek descent a means by 
which to connect to their past.
  Tonight, as I stand before my colleagues, the grandson of Greek 
immigrants, I am pleased to recognize the investment the Hellenic 
Dancers have made in the future by preserving the past, and I wish them 
well as they continue to dance and sing into the future.

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