[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H1637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AMERICA AND GREECE--STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 192nd 
anniversary of Greek Independence Day.
  Greece and America are history's most storied democracies. Our 
Founding Fathers borrowed heavily from Greek antiquity to build 
American democracy. Our relationship with Greece, however, is more than 
one just of philosophical kinship. America, Greece, and Greek Americans 
have stood in solidarity since the founding of the United States.
  In this year, when we also celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 
Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of the March on 
Washington, and the 100th anniversary of both Harriet Tubman's death 
and Rosa Parks' birth, it is especially fitting to recall how Hellenes 
and African Americans have reached out to one another to provide mutual 
support.
  When Hellenes acted to liberate themselves in 1821, James Williams, 
an African American sailor from my hometown of Baltimore, joined the 
Greek revolutionary navy and fought at the Battle of Navarino. In turn, 
John Zachos and Photius Fisk, orphans of the Greek War of Independence, 
became passionate abolitionists in America. Zachos was a member of the 
Educational Commission of Boston and New York. Fisk, a U.S. Navy 
chaplain, helped slaves find freedom by supporting the Underground 
Railroad.
  In 1922, recently arrived Greek immigrants organized the American 
Hellenic Educational Progressive Association in Georgia to defend 
themselves against the Ku Klux Klan. AHEPA went on to help countless 
Greek immigrants assimilate into American society, and it weighed in on 
many of the most significant social issues of our time, including the 
movement for civil rights. Archbishop Iakovos, leader of the Greek 
Orthodox Church in America, carried that commitment forward when he 
marched alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. 
An iconic photograph of those two great leaders appeared on the cover 
of Life Magazine.
  The historical relationship of these two proud communities embodies 
the greatness of America. On March 25, when we celebrate Greek 
Independence Day, we salute all those who have struggled for freedom, 
and we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that America remains a symbol 
of fairness and opportunity the world over.

                              {time}  1020

  I rise today also to mourn the passing of the legendary Greek 
American, Andrew A. Athens of Chicago.
  Andy lived a life that few could match. He enlisted in the U.S. Army 
in January of 1942 and fought at the famous Battle of El Alamein in 
Egypt. He attained the rank of captain, and in 1945 was honored with 
the Bronze Star and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for his 
outstanding military service. Andy went on to become a successful 
businessman and walked with kings and commoners, spreading the high 
ideals and values of Hellenism.
  Andy was at the forefront of organizing Greek Americans in their 
pursuit of justice for Cyprus and freedom for the Ecumenical 
Patriarchate. And in so many of what for him became routine endeavors, 
he embodied Hellenism in the public service by giving back to the 
broader American society. Whether it was AHEPA, the Order of St. 
Andrew, or organizations he founded such as the United Hellenic 
American Congress and Hellenicare, the scope of Andy's commitment to a 
myriad of important causes was breathtaking. He combined a gentleness 
of spirit with a fierce determination to make a difference. Andy's 
heart was always full as he gave graciously of his time and resources 
to make this world a better place.
  Above all, Andy Athens had a deep commitment to family. His beloved 
wife of 67 years, Louise, and Andy's entire family are in our thoughts. 
May his memory be ever eternal.

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