[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 170 (Monday, October 28, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CELEBRATING OXI DAY

  (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition and 
celebration of Oxi Day.
  Seventy-nine years ago today, the Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis 
Metaxas, replied, ``oxi,'' or ``no,'' to the fascist forces looking to 
enter Greece initially in their quest for total conquest of the 
continent. With this historic response, Greece rejected submission to 
the Axis Powers, proving it would not go easy.
  Though the invasion of the Greek homeland ultimately happened, the 
fascist forces could not contend with the ferocity of the Greek 
resistance. The delayed invasion marked the first Axis setback in the 
entire war and actually precipitated a fatal delay in the German 
invasion of Russia, serving as the turning point for Allied Powers 
during World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the bravery and resistance of Greek 
warriors, which serves as an example for all freedom-loving people.

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