[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Greek Independence Day, 
March 25, 2000.
  During the rule of the Ottoman Empire from the fifteenth through 
nineteenth centuries, the Greek people never lost sight of their 
distinct identity and deep devotion to their Orthodox Church, whose 
clergy played a critical function in maintaining their language and 
religion. As the eighteenth century ended, the Greeks began organizing 
a struggle for their freedom. On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos called 
for all to join the campaign for Greek independence. Despite 
overwhelming odds, thousands of Greeks throughout the region responded 
to this inspiring call and fought heroically.
  The combination of Greek sacrifice and bravery with the help of 
foreign volunteers succeeded by the end of the 1820s in establishing an 
independent Greek state. The Greek-American community offers a cultural 
bridge between the two countries and takes pride that Greek ideals 
contributed to America's revolution before Greeks themselves had the 
chance to follow a related and successful campaign for freedom.
  This year, Greek Independence Day will be celebrated in Cleveland 
with an annual parade led by his Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of the 
Diocese of Pittsburgh. The parade will be a celebration of the Greek 
struggle for independence that took place 179 years ago. Parade 
Committee Chairperson Toula Spirtos stressed the value of this event 
when she said, ``We owe it to our children to preserve those ideas for 
which the fighters of 1821 shed blood to win and our fathers shed sweat 
and tears to preserve for us.''
  My fellow colleagues, please join me in celebrating Greek 
Independence Day.

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