[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATING GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, during our absence from session over the 
Easter recess, a momentous date passed which merits our observance. 
Greek Independence Day commemorates and celebrates the Greek people's 
declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire on March 25, 1821. 
From this day, until the Treaty of Constantinople officially recognized 
Greek independence, the Greek people waged a valiant and victorious 
struggle for their freedom.
  The Ottoman Empire's oppression and occupation of Greece evolved over 
the course of the 14th and 15th centuries. Yet during these centuries, 
Greek patriots arose to oppose and overthrow the Ottomans' dominion, 
and in 1814 emerged the secretly formed Friendly Society, which proved 
a herald of Hellenic liberty.
  Then 7 years later, on March 25, 1821, the Orthodox Metropolitan 
Germanos of Patras proclaimed a national uprising, and simultaneous 
uprisings arose throughout Greece. Initially this courageous movement 
liberated many areas of Greece, but the Ottoman Empire rapidly and 
ruthlessly responded with innumerable acts of brutality, including the 
massacre of entire Greek communities.
  Such Ottoman barbarism contrasted ill with Greek heroism and inspired 
many nations and citizens to rally to the Greek cause. Thus, in 1827, 
the British and French fleets delivered a crushing blow to the Ottoman 
fleet at Navarino, and in 1828, 10,000 French soldiers landed in the 
Peloponnese to end the Ottoman scourge of Greece.
  It was then, and after the horror of war had ebbed and ended, the 
Convention of May 11, 1832, recognized Greece as a sovereign state, 
and, again, the Treaty of Constantinople recognized Greek independence 
from Ottoman rule in July of 1832.
  Thus, Mr. Speaker, it is both fitting and fair for we Americans as a 
free people to commemorate and celebrate the date of May 25, the date 
Greece, the Cradle of Democracy, was once again made free.
  So, too, Mr. Speaker, let us reflect upon the reality that no treaty, 
no mere scrap of paper, could ever accomplish more than to simply state 
the obviousness of Greek freedom, which has always endured for time 
immemorial, despite whatever oppression encountered.
  Indeed, did not the pen of the British poet and doomed martyr to the 
cause of Greek independence and freedom, Lord Byron, write a testament 
to the Greek people's inherent love of liberty when he wrote:

     The Sword, the Banner, and the Field,
     Glory and Greece, around me see!
     The Spartan, borne upon his shield,
     Was never more free.

  And may Greece, Mr. Speaker, ever be free.

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