[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 192ND ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL G. GRIMM

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2013

  Mr. GRIMM. Mr. Speaker, today I stand with my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle in honoring a joyous day for our proud constituents 
of Greek and Cypriot descent. As an enthusiastic member of the 
Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I am truly honored to commemorate the 
192nd Anniversary of Greek Independence and celebrate the ties that 
connect our two great democracies in strength and fellowship.
   In reflecting on Greece and America's longstanding tradition as 
friends and allies, we also honor the accomplishments of countless 
Greek and Cypriot Americans, many of which first immigrated to our 
country and grew their livelihoods in New York City, a longstanding 
bastion America's magnificent diversity. I represent the 11th 
Congressional District of New York and am proud to serve a large and 
thriving Greek and Cypriot American community. The remarkable cultural 
festivals thrown by the Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge, or the 
Holy Trinity/St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Churches on the West Shore of 
Staten Island are beloved neighborhood celebrations that are looked 
forward to by residents of all backgrounds every year. The countless 
businesses, services, and entrepreneurial endeavors provided by Greek 
and Cypriot Americans in Staten Island and Brooklyn attest to the 
strength of, and support for, this thriving community.
   Greek Independence Day is an ideal moment for all Americans to 
contemplate the roots of our own democratic tradition. It is important 
to remember that when the Founding Fathers set out to structure our 
young republic on firm footing, many of the laws and principles were 
based on the ancient political philosophy of the Greeks. Appreciating 
the very architecture of the United States Capitol, our Temple of 
Freedom, or reading through the Constitution reveals the profound 
impact the culture and history of Greece has had on our modern customs 
and institutions.
   It is with great pride that I rise today to honor the independence 
of a nation that, for centuries, has championed the very rights it has 
had the distinct honor and privilege of nurturing into existence: those 
of liberty and participation in the democratic process. I have come to 
know first-hand the vibrant cultural heritage Greek and Cypriot 
Americans offer to local communities in Staten Island and Brooklyn, and 
I have every confidence that the common bonds between the United 
States, Cyprus, and Greece shall live on for generations to come.

                          ____________________