[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 123, 111th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8353--MAR. 24, 2009

Proclamation 8353 of March 24, 2009
Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and
American Democracy, 2009
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

The American people join Hellenes today in commemorating the 188th
anniversary of Greece's independence. As we celebrate the establishment
of the Hellenic Republic, we honor the historic contributions of Greeks
and Greek-Americans.
Americans celebrated the cause of Greek independence during the new
nation's earliest years. In 1824, summarizing support for the Greek
struggle among the American people, then-Representative Henry Clay
declared, ``That it is felt with the deepest intensity, expressed in
almost every possible form, and that it increases with every new day and
passing hour.'' His words are echoed today as Americans celebrate the
anniversary of this struggle for independence.
The relationship between Greece and the United States owes much to the
vision of democracy and liberty forged in Greece. In constructing a
modern democratic framework, our Nation's founders drew upon the
immutable principles of the ancient Greeks. All who cherish the ideal of
democratic governance are beneficiaries of the Greek legacy.
From the literary classics taught in our children's classrooms to the
gleaming monuments of our Nation's capital, Greek cultural traditions
have also found a home in the United States. In classrooms across the
country, many of our students still immerse themselves in the epics of
Homer, the dramas of Sophocles, and the philosophical innovations of
Plato and Aristotle. Among the Greek-influenced structures in Wash-

[[Page 3620]]
123 STAT. 3620

ington, D.C., our Nation's Capitol Building draws upon the architectural
legacy of the ancient Greeks.
In recent history, Greece and the United States have stood together to
meet the challenges of our times. Greeks and Americans fought for common
causes over the course of the 20th century and continue to collaborate
in this century, including through membership in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
The strength of the bond between Greece and the United States is
exemplified by the Greek-American community, which enriches our Nation
with its cultural heritage and helps maintain the living relationship
between our countries.
On the anniversary of Greece's independence, we celebrate this
friendship and look forward to realizing our common goals and
aspirations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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, 2009, as ``Greek
Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American
Democracy.'' I call upon the people of the United States to observe this
day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
third.
BARACK OBAMA