[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16105]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                OXI DAY

  (Ms. TITUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, nearly 73 years ago, as countries across 
Europe were falling to Hitler's forces, an emissary from Mussolini 
arrived in Athens to demand the Greeks surrender and allow the Axis 
forces to occupy that country. In response, the Greeks courageously 
replied, ``oxi,'' or ``no.''
  The Axis forces quickly descended on Greece, but they failed to 
anticipate the courage of the Hellenic people, who led a passionate 
resistance in defense of their freedom and their beloved country. On 
the island of Crete, for example, with only broomsticks and plowshares 
as weapons, women and children held the Germans at bay for 10 days, 
breaking the back of the assault.
  The story of this bravery has largely been overlooked in the history 
books, but the Greek refusal to surrender proved to be one of the most 
decisive moments in the war. As Winston Churchill said:

       If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, 
     we do not know what the outcome of World War II would have 
     been.

  On August 28, Greeks around the world celebrate Oxi Day to honor the 
great legacy of the Greek people and share with the world the story of 
their bravery. I commend them and say, ``Happy Oxi Day.''

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