[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE 189TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, As a lead sponsor of this resolution, 
I am proud to stand with my colleagues to commemorate the 189th 
anniversary of Greek independence. We gather here today not only in 
recognition of Greece's proud history, and in appreciation of the warm 
friendship our two countries share, but also to thank the Greek people 
for standing by our side in good times and bad, in peace and in war.
  The U.S. connection to Greece reaches back to the days before the 
United States was even a country. It is well known that the Founding 
Fathers were well versed in Greek political philosophy and drew on that 
knowledge in their efforts to lay the political foundation of this 
Nation. Thomas Jefferson once said of Greece that it was ``the first of 
civilized nations, (and) presented examples of what man should be.'' 
Indeed, many of the political ideas attributed to the United States 
today, such as freedom of speech and the respect for democratic 
governance can trace their origins back to ancient Greece.
  On this 189th anniversary of Greek independence, let us all reflect 
on what we as Americans owe to Greece for our historical ties, for the 
role ancient Greece played in the shaping of our democracy and for the 
enduring friendship between the peoples of the United States and 
Greece.

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