[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 28, 2006

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today 
to rise in commemoration of the 186th anniversary of Greece's 
independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829 and to pay tribute to its 
long and sometimes difficult journey back to democracy, freedom, 
stability, and prosperity.
  Nestled in Southern Europe, and bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, 
and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey, Greece is the 
epitome of picturesque.
  Greece is rich with history traceable to Stone Age hunters, 
compounded with agricultural and complex civilizations of Minoan and 
Mycenaean kings and followed by the Dark Ages, marking a period of wars 
and invasions.
  During the second half of the 19th century and first half of the 20th 
century, Greece strengthened its landmass by adding neighboring islands 
and territories.
  After being invaded by Italy in 1940, Greece became occupied by 
Germany from 1941 to 1944. After enduring many years of civil war, 
Greece defeated the communist rebels in 1949 and subsequently joined 
NATO in 1952.
  In 1972, Greece held its first democratic elections and created a 
parliamentary republic, abolishing the monarchy, and later joined the 
European Community in 1982.
  Today, Greece is part of the international coalition committed to the 
war on terror. By making airspace and airbases available to the U.S., 
Greece is an important player in the war against terrorism.
  I join my colleagues in commemoration of Greece Independence Day and 
gladly pay tribute to the many cultural contributions paid by Greek 
Americans in Dallas, as well as, in our Nation.

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