[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 12 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Pages 422-424]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

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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 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, who spoke prior to the President; 
Minister of Development Christos Folias of Greece; Greece's Ambassador 
to the U.S. Alexandros P. Mallias and his wife, Francoise-Anne Mallias; 
Cyprus's Ambassador to the U.S. Andreas S. Kakouris; and Reverend Father 
Alex Karloutsos, assistant to the Archbishop for public affairs.

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