[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18679]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIFICATION OF THE ISLAND OF 
                    CRETE WITH THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 11, 2013

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of the unification of the Island of Crete with the Hellenic 
Republic. On December 1, 1913, the flag of Greece was raised proudly on 
the Island, recognizing the will of the people of Crete who declared 
their unification with Greece, breaking ties with the oppressive 
Ottoman Empire which had occupied the island since 1669.
  Sitting at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Middle East, 
Crete, one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, is matched by 
its oversized influence throughout world history. Crete was home to the 
Minoan civilization, a major center for the Roman, Byzantine, Venetian 
and Ottoman empires, and birthplace to some of the world's most 
renowned artists--like Nobel laureate Odysseus Elytis and composer, 
Mikis Theodorakis.
  During their struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire, the 
people of Crete endured political oppression and unspeakable 
atrocities, but they never stopped living their lives under the creed 
``Elefteria I Thanatos'' ``Freedom or Death.'' Since rejoining with 
Greece, Crete has remained a pillar of the fight against tyranny and 
oppressive regimes. Nowhere was this exhibited more than during the 
Battle of Crete, when Cretans stood alongside Allied troops and fought 
off German paratroopers. And--like Crete itself--the Battle had an 
oversized influence on the outcome of World War II. The damage the 
Cretans and their Western allies inflicted on the German air force and 
paratrooper corps prevented Nazi Germany from carrying out another 
airborne invasion for the remainder of World War II.
  For over 267 years, the people of Crete fought a brave battle to 
rejoin their Greek motherland and I stand here today to recognize their 
sacrifices and honor their memories.

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