    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 25, 2008]
    [Pages 414-415]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Celebration of Greek Independence Day
    March 25, 2008

        Thank you. Your Eminence, thank you very much. Welcome to the White House.
    I'm always open for a few suggestions. [Laughter] You're an easy man to
    listen to.
        And I want to thank you all for coming. Here we are to celebrate the
    187th anniversary of Greek independence. And it's an interesting place
    to celebrate it, isn't it? You know, the White House is a great symbol
    for independence and freedom and liberty. And it's a fitting place to
    celebrate the independence of Greece.
        Mr. Minister, thank you for coming. We
    appreciate you coming all the way over for this event, and we're proud
    you're here. And thanks for bringing your son.
        Mr. Ambassador, thanks for coming.
    Ambassador Mallias is with us today. Mr. Ambassador, there you are,
    right there, Ambassador. Thank you. It's good to see your wife. Appreciate you all being here. Ambassador
    Kakouris of--to Cyprus is with us--from
    Cyprus to U.S. is with us.
        Senator, thank you for coming. It's good to see you again. We miss
    you around these parts. [Laughter] I don't know if you've missed these
    parts, but we miss you around these parts. [Laughter]
        Father Alex, good to see you again, sir.
    Thanks. I appreciate very much my Greek American--fellow Greek American
    citizens coming, as well as those who wear the uniform. We're proud to
    be in your presence.
        Your Eminence, all free
    people stand on the shoulders of Greece. In the ancient world where
    political power usually came from the sword, the people of Athens came
    together around a radical and untried idea: that men were fit to govern
    themselves. It was this freedom that allowed them to create one of the
    most vibrant societies in history. And that society deeply influenced
    America's Founding Fathers when they sought to establish a free state
    centuries later.
        Throughout their history, the people of Greece have been committed
    to liberty. They've also been committed to the important principle that
    liberty only survives when brave men and women are ready to come to its
    defense.
        In the years leading up to Greece's war for independence, one of the
    rallying cries of the Greek people was that it was better to be free for
    an hour than to be a slave for 40 years. Those are the kind of folks who
    had their priorities straight.
        The United States was by Greece's side from the very beginning of
    the struggle for independence. In those early days, some Americans
    volunteered to serve in the Greek army, and many more contributed the
    funds that were necessary to keep the fight alive. Former Presidents
    John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison all spoke in favor of
    the Greek people's right to self-determination. And after many long
    years, Greece emerged victorious and free. And that's what we're
    celebrating today.
        And from that time forward, the United States and Greece have been
    strong allies in the cause of freedom. Today, we continue to work to
    spread the hope of liberty. Our countries are working together in
    Afghanistan, where Greek troops are an important part of the NATO forces
    that are restoring hope to that country. We're also partners in
    promoting stability in the Balkans and in the Middle East, where Greece
    provides peacekeepers in Bosnia and Kosovo and Lebanon. Please thank
    your Governments for this--strong signals that liberty is universal and
    that liberty will bring the peace we all hope.
        Our Nation has been inspired by Greek ideals, and we have been
    enriched by Greek immigrants. Today, more than 1.3

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    million Americans trace their ancestry back to Greece, and we're better
    for having them here. America is a richer place, a better place.
        Our two countries also share ties of faith. The Greek Orthodox
    Church has well over 1 million members in the United States. Under the
    leadership of this fine man, the Church is a source of strength and inspiration
    for a lot of our citizens. It's a proud part of our country's tradition
    of religious diversity and religious tolerance.
        For nearly two centuries, the bonds between the United States and
    Greece have continued to strengthen. And during the earliest days of our
    friendship, one Greek leader told the American people, quote: ``It is in
    your land that liberty has fixed her abode. In imitating you, we shall
    imitate our ancestors.''
        Today, I know that both our countries are making these ancestors
    proud through our commitment to freedom. And I'm confident that this
    tradition of friendship between the United States and Greece will
    continue for many years to come.
        And so I ask God's blessings on the people of Greece and the people
    of America. And now welcome the Metropolitan Youth Choir of the
    Archdiocese.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:41 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of
    the Greek Orthodox Church in America and his assistant for public
    affairs Reverend Father Alex Karloutsos; Minister of Development
    Christos Folias of Greece and his son Sotiris; Greece's Ambassador to
    the U.S. Alexandros P. Mallias and his wife Francoise-Anne; and Cyprus's
    Ambassador to the U.S. Andreas S. Kakouris. The related Greek
    Independence Day proclamation of March 20 is listed in Appendix D at the
    end of this volume.