[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                180TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in honor of 
the 180th anniversary of Greek independence.
  It was 180 years ago that the Greek patriots rose up against the 
Ottomans in a courageous act of defiance. Many of them fought and died 
for what they believed in, the right of self-determination, self-
governance, that an independent Greek nation should rightfully exist 
alongside other sovereign nations, free of foreign domination, 
oppression and constraints.
  A country with a rich history stretching back more than 4,000 years, 
Greece remains the cradle of democracy and one of the most important 
contributors to Western Civilization.
  When the Founding Fathers of this country sought to create a 
government of, by, and for the people, they reached for inspiration in 
the words and theories of the great Greek philosophers.
  On this day we reaffirm the common democratic heritage we share. Like 
our day of independence on July 4th, in which we are always reminded of 
the cost of freedom and independence, it is only fitting that the 
Congress of the United States commemorate the struggle that led to 
Greek independence. We fought the same battles, and won, as did those 
Greek patriots.

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