    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9999 of March 24, 2020
    Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and
    American Democracy, 2020
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation
    Our great American experiment was inspired by the ideas about liberty,
    self-government, and the rule of law that traced their roots to ancient
    Greece. On Greek Independence Day, we commemorate the rich history
    shared between the United States and Greece, which is fortified by our
    love of freedom and commitment to democratic institutions. We join the
    Greek people in celebrating another year of independence and unity.
    The great thinkers of ancient Greece stoked the American quest for
    freedom and a republic founded on the fundamental truth that people have
    rights that cannot be denied. Decades later, the same values that

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    catalyzed our Revolution inspired the people of Greece to seek their own
    freedom and independence. Recognizing the commonality between the
    Greeks' fight to establish a representative government and their own,
    many Americans supported Greek independence, forging an unbreakable bond
    between our two countries.

    Today, this same conviction for a freer and more prosperous world
    bolsters the alliance between the United States and Greece. In October
    2019, my Administration worked with Greek officials to strengthen and
    expand our defense and security partnership by updating the United
    States-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement Annex. This agreement
    paves the way for closer collaboration on national security matters
    between our two countries for decades to come. We are also grateful for
    the commitment of Greece, a strong NATO Ally, to our naval presence at
    Souda Bay on the island of Crete. Through such endeavors, the
    partnership between our countries advances our strategic national
    interests in stable and peaceful Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, and
    Western Balkans regions.
    As noted at the Second United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue last
    year, an estimated 3 million Americans claim Greek descent. We therefore
    reaffirm our commitment to building firm institutional foundations that
    foster deep appreciation of our common ties. To that end, we are proud
    to have established the Future Leaders Exchange Program, which is
    further developing educational, cultural, and scientific cooperation
    between our two countries. Throughout our histories, both of our nations
    have prioritized interactions between our peoples, which are at the core
    of our cherished relationship and alliance.
    The United States and Greece continue to share a long-held belief that
    political power belongs in the hands of the people. On this 199th
    anniversary of Greek independence, we confirm the pillars of governance,
    culture, and patriotism that have forged and continue to sustain the
    faithful bond our two nations enjoy.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2020, 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 twenty, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP