[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 14069-14070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6044]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 14069]]


                Proclamation 7414 of March 5, 2001

                
Greek Independence Day: A National Day of 
                Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Our democratic system of government traces its earliest 
                roots back to ancient Greece. The leaders of the 
                Revolution and the Framers of the Constitution often 
                drew inspiration from Athenian lawgivers and 
                philosophers and called the Greek example to mind as 
                they sought to build the new nation on the foundations 
                of representative government and free political 
                discourse. The Greeks of 1821 drew inspiration, in 
                turn, from the ideals and institutions of the fledgling 
                United States as they waged their own struggle for 
                liberty. In 2001, a vibrant Greek democracy serves once 
                again as an inspiration to its neighbors and the world.

                Our two countries have stood together as friends and 
                allies from the time America embraced modern Greece's 
                struggle for independence 180 years ago. We fought 
                together in every major war of the last century: World 
                War I through the Persian Gulf. For more than 50 years, 
                we have worked together in NATO: first to keep the 
                peace in Europe and now to build peace and stability in 
                the Balkans. We look forward to continued cooperation 
                as we celebrate the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad 
                together in Athens in 2004. Our alliance with Greece 
                remains strong, and its future is promising.

                Greeks and Americans share a love of freedom, liberty, 
                and individual rights. The friendship between our two 
                Nations is based on mutual respect, a commitment to 
                common goals, and the sharing of fundamental values. 
                Ties of blood and kinship also unite us: the modern 
                community of approximately 3 million Greek Americans 
                has established a natural and enduring bridge between 
                our nations. Today, we take special note of those 
                citizens and thank them for their innumerable 
                contributions to our Nation's cultural, economic, and 
                political heritage.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2001, as ``Greek 
                Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of 
                Greek and American Democracy.'' I call upon all the 
                people of the United States to observe this day with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities.

[[Page 14070]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand one, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-6044
Filed 3-7-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P