[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 4125-4126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATING GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Today, I rise to honor and commemorate Greek 
Independence Day.
  On March 25, 1821, Archbishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of

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revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese, and 
``Eleftheria i Thanatos,'' which means ``Liberty or Death,'' Mr. 
Speaker, became the battle cry. This day to start the Greek War of 
Independence was not chosen by chance because it coincides with the 
Greek Orthodox Church's celebration of the Annunciation to the Mother 
of God. Again, this was not a coincidence because to the Greeks of 
1821, Mr. Speaker, the Mother of God was their champion and their 
protector.
  As we all know, the price of liberty can be very high. Socrates, 
Plato, Pericles, and many other great minds throughout history warned 
that we must maintain democracy only at great cost. Our Greek brothers 
earned their liberty with blood, as did our American forefathers. The 
freedom we enjoy today is due to the sacrifices made by men and women 
in the past.
  Like the American revolutionaries who fought for independence and 
established this great Republic, Greek freedom fighters began an 
arduous struggle to win independence for Greece and her people. After 
four centuries of Ottoman oppression, they faced what appeared to be 
insurmountable odds. This was the 19th century David versus Goliath.
  The revolution of 1821 brought independence to Greece and emboldened 
those who still sought freedom across the world. It proved to the world 
that a united people, through sheer will and perseverance, can prevail 
against tyranny.
  The lessons the Greeks taught us then continue to provide strength to 
victims of persecution throughout the world today. By honoring the 
Greek struggle for independence, we reaffirm the values and ideas that 
make our Nation great.
  I take great pride in both my Greek and American heritage, and each 
time I perform my constitutional duties, I am doing so in the legacy of 
the ancient Greeks and early Americans.

                              {time}  1050

  As Thomas Jefferson once said:

       To the ancient Greeks, we are all indebted for the light 
     which led ourselves, American colonists, out of gothic 
     darkness.

  Throughout American history, Greece and her people have stood as a 
staunch and unrelenting ally of the United States. In 1917, Greece 
entered World War I on the side of the Allies, as well as when they 
were invaded in 1940 during World War II. The enemy was then forced to 
divert troops to Greece to protect its southern flank in 1941. 
Alongside the American and Allied Forces, Greece played an integral 
role in defeating the enemies.
  I would be remiss if I stood on the floor today and did not also pay 
homage to the American and Greek soldiers who fought side by side 
during the Korean War and, most notably, at Outpost Harry. As many of 
you know, each night the outpost was defended by only a single company 
of American or Greek soldiers. The Chinese had anticipated an easy 
capture; however, they did not anticipate the resolve of our soldiers 
to hold Harry at all costs and, therefore, making withdrawal not an 
option. Due to Harry's defense, the enemy ultimately called off their 
attacks due to the heavy losses suffered. This, ladies and gentlemen, 
was heroic.
  For the first time in United States military history, five rifle 
companies together--four American and one Greek--would receive the 
prestigious Distinguished Unit Citation for the outstanding performance 
of their shared mission.
  In expressing his sympathies with Greece revolting its Ottoman 
rulers, Thomas Jefferson said:

       No people sympathize more feelingly than ours with the 
     sufferings of your countrymen, none offer more sincere and 
     ardent prayers to heaven for their success. Possessing 
     ourselves the combined blessing of liberty and order, we wish 
     the same to other countries, and to none more than yours, 
     which, the first of civilized nations, presented examples of 
     what man should be.

  I stand here before you today to commemorate the Greeks who fought 
against oppression. I stand here before you today to celebrate that 
day, March 25, 1821. By doing so, we reaffirm the common democratic 
heritage we share. And as Americans, we must continue to pursue this 
spirit of freedom and liberty that characterizes both of these great 
nations.

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