08-R127

2008 -- H 8085

Enacted 03/26/08

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MARCH 25, 2008 AS THE

187TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Trillo, and Watson

Date Introduced: March 26, 2008

     WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation

reclaimed its ancient heritage as the "Cradle of Democracy" by overthrowing the yoke of

oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by

the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, Greece waged a successful War of Independence (1821-

1829) and re-instituted a democratic form of government; and

     WHEREAS, It was the genius of Greece which first ignited the flame of freedom in the

6th and 5th centuries B.C., when Athens introduced the idea of direct representative government to

the world, thus ushering in a Golden Age of art, architecture, philosophy and drama under such

giants of western history as Pericles, Sophocles, Euripedes, Socrates and Plato; and

     WHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of the United States of America drew extensively

upon the political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative

democracy; and

     WHEREAS, It is proper and desirable to celebrate with the Greek people and to reaffirm

the democratic principles from which our two great nations were born; and

     WHEREAS, President George W. Bush, in recognizing Greek Independence Day, said

"Greece and America have been firm allies in the great struggles for liberty. Americans will

always remember Greek heroism and Greek sacrifice for the sake of liberty and as the 21st

century dawns, Greece and America once again stand united; this time in the fight against

terrorism. The United States deeply appreciates the role Greece is playing in the war against

terror. America and Greece are strong allies, and we're strategic partners"; and

     WHEREAS, Greece is only one of three nations in the world, beyond the former British

Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict in the last

100 years; and

     WHEREAS, United States Ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard has emphasized that

Greece has a very important role in the Balkans, adding that the United States looks forward to

joint cooperation in this region; and

     WHEREAS, The ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and that the northern province of

Greece, Macedonia are their Hellenic descendants; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby celebrates March 25, 2008 as the 187th Anniversary of Greek

Independence, reaffirms Rhode Island's abiding commitment to the magnificent principles of

democracy and religious freedom; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of

Cranston, the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket, the St. Spyridon Greek

Orthodox Church of Newport, and the members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation

and to Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Archdiocese of America.

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LC02625

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