Commemoration of Greek Independence Day at the State Capitol

Our delegation from Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Camp Hill, PA led by a group of AHEPA Power District #4 and Chapter #64 brothers of Pennsylvania attended the Commemoration of Greek Independence Day of 1821 at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 20th, 2019. Unfortunately, Fathers Michael and Aaron could not attend this year because of the conflicting Clergy-Laity Conference in Pittsburgh. However, Father Michael prepared ‘Greetings & Prayer’ that I read to the audience in attendance at the foot of the steps at the Capitol Rotunda. The day began with a tour of the Capitol followed by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral choir soloist Ms. Diane Foutres who sang both national anthems while accompanied by pianist Peter Ariano.

The Olympic Flames Greek dancers performed to the very uplifting Greek music to the delight of the audience on the floor in front of the Capitol Rotunda. These dancers were from our Holy Trinity Cathedral were co-directed by Ann Ariano and Mantha Demopoulos. These proud young adults danced magnificently to the Greek music fully dressed in Greek garb. The entire group was then honored with short speeches from the highly esteemed Representatives Ryan Mackenzie, Greg Rothman, and Sheryl Delozier which was followed by speeches from Senators Mike Regan and Maria Franakis who is a new member of the Senate and was born in Athens. All these prestigious legislators honored our group with their praise for the Greeks and our dignified ancestry. Our group then was honored to have a photo shoot with the entire group underneath the Capitol Rotunda.

The 5 honorees introduced to the entire body of the House of Representatives are ALL AHEPANS. They included protopsalti Tom Paproidamis; along with LTC Vasilis Bozoudis from the Hellenic Army; distinguished professor at Hershey Medical Center/Penn State Dr. Zissis Chroneos; District Governor Charles Mackenzie from Allentown; and District Marshal Dr. Michael Billys, program coordinator. Representatives Ryan Mackenzie, Greg Rothman, and Sheryl Delozier spoke again this time to the entire legislative body while proclaiming this day officially with a 'Proclamation' in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the honor of the Greek Independence Day of 1821. It is truly an inspirational moment that I am enthralled with every year since I’ve been going there. I recommend that you witness this event!

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY – MARCH 25TH, 1821

Greek Independence Day is celebrated annually in Greece and abroad, on March 25 commemorating the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821 from the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Greece had been part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire since 1453, when Byzantine Empire and

Constantinople fall to the Ottoman Turks.

The Greek revolt started on March 25, 1821, when Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese. The cry “Freedom or Death” became the motto of the revolution - very similar to the message of “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” by Patrick Henry in 1775, as the American Thirteen Colonies (allied with France) started (embarked on) their armed struggle for independence from the mighty British Empire.

The Greeks experienced many successes on the battlefield, including the capture of Athens in June 1822, the defeat of Turkish armies in the Peloponnese and central Greece, and the liberation of Greek islands in the Aegean. The entry of powerful and European-trained and equipped Egyptian forces aiding the Turks in 1824, and internal Greek divisions put at risk (imperiled) the Greek struggle for independence. However, under the military leadership of such figures as Kolokotronis and Miaoulis on land and sea the Greeks recovered and continued the fight.

The survival of the Greek revolution convinced Great Britain, France, and Russia to intervene in the conflict. The Greek struggle had elicited strong sympathy in Europe, and among many leading intellectuals – the philhellenes ("the admirers of Greeks and everything Greek") had promoted the Greek cause, the British poet Lord Byron being one of them. At the naval Battle of Navarino, the combined British, French, and Russian naval forces destroyed the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. The revolution ended in 1829, when the Treaty of Adrianople (Sept. 14, 1829), established the modern independent Greek (Hellenic) state.

In celebration of Greek Independence Day, towns and villages throughout Greece hold a school flag parade, during which schoolchildren march in traditional Greek costume and carry Greek flags. There is also an armed forces parade in Athens.

Greece (officially the Hellenic Republic) today faces multiple challenges. Modern Greece does not share borders with countries such as Canada or Belgium, but with Turkey, with its constant aggressive aims in the Aegean Sea and its unlawful military occupation of Cypriot territory.

Greece is also currently fighting a different type of war for its national, economic, and social survival, but is gradually overcoming the effects of a severe economic and fiscal crisis. However, it continues to play an important and stabilizing role both in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Balkans, and its armed forces (vigilantly and capably) guard its independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The spirit of the Greek War of Independence must be kept alive both in Greece and among the Greek expatriate communities worldwide. Greece and the United States have long-standing historical, political, and cultural ties, based on a common western heritage, shared democratic values, and participation as Allies during World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War and the War on Terror. Modern diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in the 1830s after the Greek War of Independence, and today the two nations continue to have strong national security collaboration in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Balkans.

GOD BLESS THE USA and GOD BLESS GREECE.