[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

[[Page 415]]

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.