[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 121, 110th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE [NOTE: May 14,
2007 -  [H.Con.Res.71] ASSOCIATION--85TH ANNIVERSARY

Whereas the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
(AHEPA) was founded July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia, by eight
visionary Greek immigrants to help unify, organize, and protect
against the bigotry, discrimination, and defamation faced by people
of all ethnic, race, and religious backgrounds perpetrated
predominantly by the Ku Klux Klan;

Whereas the mission of AHEPA is to promote the ideals of ancient Greece,
which include philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, and
family and individual excellence through community service and
volunteerism;

Whereas since its inception, AHEPA has instilled in its members an
understanding of their Hellenic heritage and an awareness of the
contributions made to the development of democratic principles and
governance in the United States and throughout the world;

Whereas AHEPA has done much throughout its history to foster American
patriotism;

Whereas members of AHEPA served in the Armed Forces of the United States
to protect American freedom and to preserve those democratic ideals
that are part of the Hellenic legacy, and specifically in World War
II, were parachuted behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Greece to
help liberate it;

Whereas AHEPA raised more than $253 million for United States War Bonds
during World War II, for which AHEPA was named an official Issuing
Agent for United States War Bonds by the Department of the Treasury,
an honor that no other civic organization was able to achieve at the
time;

Whereas the members of AHEPA donated $612,000 toward the restoration of
the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York, for which AHEPA
received special recognition by the Department of the Interior;

Whereas the AHEPA National Housing Program was awarded $500 million by
the Department of Housing and Urban Development for its Section 202
Program that has yielded 4,370 units in

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80 properties across 21 States and 49 cities which has provided
dignified, affordable housing to senior citizens;

Whereas AHEPA was recognized by the Department of State as an
organization that has engaged in ``Track Two Diplomacy'' to foster
reconciliation and rapprochement in the Eastern Mediterranean, which
is in the best interest of the United States;

Whereas members of AHEPA raised $110,000 for the creation of the George
C. Marshall Statue erected on the grounds of the United States
Embassy in Athens, Greece in celebration of the historic
relationship between the United States and Greece, and in tribute to
an outstanding Statesman and Philhellene, General Marshall;

Whereas AHEPA financially supports scholarships, educational chairs,
medical research, and countless other charitable and philanthropic
causes by contributing more than $2,000,000 annually from its
national, district, and local levels collectively;

Whereas in the spirit of their Hellenic heritage and in commemoration of
the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia, members of
AHEPA raised $775,000 for the ``Tribute'' to Olympism Sculpture, the
``fan-like'' structure of which helped to save lives during the
Olympic Bombing at Centennial Olympic Park;

Whereas members of AHEPA have been Presidents and Vice Presidents of the
United States, United States Senators and Representatives, and
United States Ambassadors, and have served honorably as elected
officials at the local and State levels throughout the United
States; and

Whereas President George H.W. Bush cited AHEPA as one of America's
``thousand points of light'': Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) recognizes the significant contributions of American
citizens of Hellenic heritage to the United States;
(2) commemorates the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA),
applauds its mission, and commends the many charitable
contributions of its members to communities around the world;
and
(3) requests the President of the United States to issue a
proclamation acknowledging the 85th Anniversary of AHEPA and its
many accomplishments.

Agreed to May 14, 2007.