Greek Independence Celebrating - The National Herald
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MARCH 21, 2020
Celebrating
Greek Independence
PETER VON HESS, PALICAR TROOPS, ATHENS, 1829 (WIKIMEDIA)
The National Herald
TH
LD
NA RA
E
TIO E
N AL H
www.thenationalherald.com
2 Greek Independence Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020
Greek Independence Day, Chicago-Style 1895-96
By Stavros Stavridis on Kinzie Street and near Clark by Fa- patriotism had enjoined its general use
ther Peter Phiambolis. After the April to the confusion and abolition of the
For the Greeks living in Greece and 1896 church service, Father Phiambo- dialects.”
those in the diaspora, March 25 is an lis, Baron de Schlippenbach (Russian Before this, “a Peloponnesian, Al-
important day on the Greek national Consul), Count Roswadowski (Italian banian, Chiote, Cretan, and Anatolian"
calendar. It is the time that Greeks re- Consul), Arnold Holinger (Swiss Con- had gathered at an inn with "each
member when their ancestors com- sul), and Charles Hutchinson (Greek speaking a dialect that none of the oth-
menced their struggle for freedom from Consul-General) made speeches to the ers understands." They spoke a "babel
Ottoman rule on March 25,1821. small congregation. The Greek Consul of tongues: when a courier enters
The Daily Inter Ocean (1872-1914), sent his secretary A.W. Foote to repre- "telling of Greek independence." With
a Chicago morning newspaper with a sent him at this event. John C. Pala- the assistance of a 'scholar', they
daily circulation of 50,000 copies sup- maris thanked the Consuls for their adopted Greek as their national lan-
ported the Republican side of U.S. pol- beautiful contributions. While the guage.
itics. It published two articles titled newspaper did not report on the con- Those who participated in the play
‘Their day to shout. Greeks celebrate tent of the speeches, one can safely as- included: J.C. Palamaris, John Stavro,
an anniversary in their history…" and sume that the presenters would have John Volikos, A. Manutos, Xenophon
"Gala day for Greeks. Celebrate their praised the heroic efforts of the Greeks Paraskevopoulos, Ath. Athanasion, Hiar
emancipation from the rule of Turkey” in 1821. Contos, N. Michaelopoulos, J. Poulos,
on April 7, 1895 and1896. Both stories The second part involved an after- John Andrew, James Granakopoulos,
reported on the celebration of Greek noon parade "south on Clark street V. Contos, N. Stathakis, and N. Geor-
Independence Day by that city's small from the Northside Turner Hall to gacopoulos. Pianist Kate Matoxes ac-
Greek community, which numbered Adams Street, east on Adams Street to companied by an orchestra, played dif-
2,000. The Greeks at that time used State Street, north on State Street to ferent tunes and the 'Ethnikos Hymnos’
the Julian calendar (March 25, old Lake Street, west on Lake Street to (Greek national anthem). Greek and
style), whereas April 7 in America was Dearborn Street, north on Dearborn American flags decorated Turner hall.
based on the Gregorian calendar. Street and Dearborn Avenue to Division In 1896, both Greeks and Americans
According to Dr. John Volikos, a Street, west on Division Street to Clark attended a dance at Turner Hall. The
leading member of Chicago’s Greek Street, south on Clark Street to North- Americans were much at "home" with
community, remarked that there were side Turner Hall." During the proces- their "waltzes…quadrilles," whereas
only a handful of educated Greeks liv- sion, Greek societies, including the Ly- the Greeks indulged in their traditional
ing in Chicago, whereas a vast majority curgus Benevolent Society founded by dances. The Daily Inter Ocean de-
of them were poor and uneducated. Greeks from Laconia in 1892, and scribed the Greek dances as “graceful
The latter group initially was engaged Greek community were “led by John and pretty to look at.” Greek identity
in selling fruit in the streets. In Greece, C. Palamaris, P.A Manusos, Constantine also could be expressed through danc-
there were very few opportunities for Mitchell, M. Comonzis, Dr. John.Vo- ing. Some of those attending this social
advancement on the social ladder, likos, and John Stravro." function included G. Gianokopoulos,
whereas Chicago offered them a chance The 1896 procession was an excit- J.C. Palamaris, E. Lamprakis, A. An-
to improve their socio-economic posi- ing affair. It was "headed by eight po- drew, G. Psycharis, Peter Poulos, and
tion and status. Others learned “me- licemen in command of Sergeant Fink W. Kabouris. A management committee
chanical trades.” Some Greeks made of East Chicago Avenue station. Behind headed by P. Thomson, T. Poulos, P.
their fortunes, returned to Greece, mar- a band of sixty pieced, playing Greek Williams, C. Michel, N. Carlas, J. Gi-
ried, and brought their brides back with and American airs, came members of anokpoulos, J. Politis, P. Lambros, G.
them to America. Generally speaking, the Society of Lycurgus wearing hand- School, N. Kelavos and others had or-
however, most Greeks tended to marry some regalia.” ganized this successful social event.
American, Swedish, German, Irish, and They received warm support from Nicholas P. Stathakis, the Chicago
German women. Very few single Greek "onlookers" during their two-hour pro- correspondent of Athens newspapers
women ventured across the Atlantic to cession. The playing of "Greek and subjugation. In the late 19th century, tural and social events held in the Logos and Akropolis, worked very dili-
North America during the late 19th American airs" symbolized the dual loy- many Greeks still lived outside the evening. In 1895, a comedy play titled gently to make this social event a great
century. alty of Chicago Greeks towards their small Hellenic Kingdom, in Asia Minor, Babel, set in Nafplion, Peloponnesos, success.
The celebration of Greek Indepen- old and adopted homeland. They were the Dodecanese, Thrace, Macedonia, was based on the Greek war of inde- The Daily Inter Ocean stated that
dence Day has three parts to it, as evi- also grateful to America for economic and Crete under Ottoman rule. After pendence. The play showed that the “what the Greeks have done in Chicago
denced in the two news accounts. The opportunities, social advancement, and the procession, celebrations continued "Greeks had become nationalized by in the short space of ten years may be
first one involved a Liturgy conducted the freedom to celebrate and maintain at Turner Hall. the adoption of a language, not exactly taken as an indication of what they will
at the Greek Orthodox Church located their Hellenic identity free of Ottoman The final installment included cul- classic Greek, but so near akin to it that do in the years to come.”
Meanings and
Memories of Parades
By Constantine S. Sirigos
The Golden Chain of Hellenism which extends millennia deep
into the mists of prehistory consists not only of the threads of
literature and the remains of monuments but also of the fila-
ments of our own memories which melt into the haze of our
childhood, recollections of events and celebrations that turn the
words of our schoolbooks into echoes of the poundings of our
own hearts accompanying the bands that stirred our younger
selves with crowds on Fifth Avenue. In our little chests we felt
the very passion of the heroes of 1821.
Alas the parade has been postponed. This year Manhattan’s
most famous boulevard will not welcome spring with a joyous
sea of blue and white. We will not feel the glorious illusion of
sunshine on a rainy day late March day when our faces and
souls light up as the Evzones and todays mirror images of our-
selves, our own children and grandchildren, march by dressed
in professional splendor and the magic of childhood respectively.
There will be no Greek parades anywhere in 2020 around
March 25, one year before the bi-centennial of the revolution
we celebrate, not in New York, and not in the Hellenic Homeland
either, a little voice just told me.
As I write these lines,
moments after I thought
to call my Greek-Irish
American colleague to
wish him a happy St.
Patrick’s, whose parade TNH/KOSTAS BEJ/FILE
was also hacked by the The Greek flag-raising ceremony in 2018 at Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan took place under sunny skies with the Evzones
coronavirus – I received participating.
a message not from the
Angel of the Lord of the
Feast of the Annuncia-
tion, but the Municipal
Authorities of modern
Athens telling me, in
Greek Independence Day:
Greek and English, her-
alded by ominous tones
and a woman’s voice:
“Do your part” to stem
Celebrating Heroes and Philhellenes
TNH ARCHIVES the spread of the coron-
avirus, “do not leave your house tonight.” By Eleni Sakellis haps most well-known, Lord Byron, had
And indeed I will do my part, because as a citizen and Greek been inspired by his travels in Greece before
Orthodox Christian I will express my love for my neighbor. Hap- This year, we celebrate the 199th An- 1821 to write some of his most famous
pily, because with my God-given reason I know that if each of niversary of the start of the Greek War of works. In his poems, he wrote movingly
us looks out for the other, we ourselves will be protected too, Independence. The plans for the bicenten- about the struggle of the people suffering
and we will overcome this crisis the way our ancestors faced nial celebrations in 2021 are already un- under the oppression of the Ottoman Em-
adversity before and after 1821. derway and those who would like to partic- pire and brought wider attention to Greece
It still saddens me, however, that this year, there will be no ipate can check out the official website: and the fight for freedom. He died at Mes-
parades, which I am certain are a big part – certainly in the Di- https://www.greece2021.gr. solonghi, Greece on April 19, 1824. Another
aspora – of the pride and sense of obligation we feel to Mother As students of the Greek Revolution perhaps less well-known historical figure,
Hellas. know, the seeds of revolution were planted the German Karl von Normann-Ehrenfels,
But we have our memories of parades past, that I am de- long before March 25, 1821. Resistance, re- sailed to Greece in early 1822 with other
lighted to review here. My strongest image, however, is not ac- volts, and uprisings took place throughout philhellenes to help in the revolution. He
companied by a memory. the Ottoman era. served as chief of staff to Alexandros
I have a photo of a diminutive two-year-old boy (yes, more The ideas of the Enlightenment sparked Mavrokordatos in the Battle of Peta on July
diminutive than his peers) in full Evzone regalia, flanked by his something that past revolts could not quite 16, 1822, and died of his wounds a few
proud dad Tony and Pappou Kosta, walking down Arden Street capture. As French philhellene Victor Hugo months later at Messolonghi. Philhellene
in Inwood, way up in Manhattan. North of 200th Street. To get said, “all the forces in the world are not so committees in Europe and United States
there you ‘Take the A Train.’ powerful as an idea whose time has come.” raised money for the war effort and for the
Little Dino must have been very happy to be an Evzone in Following numerous attempts to break relief of its victims, including the survivors
the early sixties, but by the end of the decade, that was not a free from Ottoman oppression, and the sac- of the 1822 massacre on Chios. Working to-
getup he wanted his American friends to see him in. Shame on rifices of numerous heroes over the years, gether, the dream of freedom for Greece
him, perhaps, but adolescence was coming and he knew the the turning point had arrived for the liber- was realized.
difference between girls laughing at you and laughing with you. ation of Greece. We should also remember the countless,
So one of the happiest days of his life was when he became For those living outside of Greece, Greek unnamed heroes who made the ultimate
a Cub Scout, and marched up Fifth Avenue with the Three Hier- Independence Day takes on a special mean- EUROKINISSI sacrifice in the struggle to breathe free, even
archs Church of Brooklyn. Later, he was a Golden Greek of Boy ing. It reminds us of what our ancestors Laskarina Bouboulina statue in Spetses. before 1821, like the women and children
Scout Troop 531, led by the great Mr. ‘Kay’ John P. Kentouris. fought and died for. On March 25, 1821, of Souli, immortalized in the Dance of Za-
Marching proudly, thrilled I did not have to wear a ‘fous- Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag nections in the minds and hearts of the peo- longo and the famous song lyrics, translated
tanella’, I heard strange sounds ahead. People shouting. As I got of revolution over the Monastery of Agia ple through faith and history. into English: The fish cannot live on the
closer I saw banners. People waving signs. They were not happy. Lavra in the Peloponnese. The cry “Freedom Though many of us live far away, our land/Nor the flower on the sand/And the
When I asked one of the ‘adults’ after the parade, I was told or death” became the motto of the Revolu- love for our Greek heritage, language, and women of Souli/Cannot live without free-
they were ‘treloi’ – crazy. The people were protesting the Greek tion. The date of March 25 is also a religious homeland remain steadfast. The most fa- dom.
junta. Later my Greek school teacher’s commentary also fell holiday, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary mous heroes of the Greek War of Indepen- Although the various parades to show
flat. Only my ‘American School’ teacher – God bless the beautiful when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to dence, Theodoros Kolokotronis, Georgios our Hellenic pride have been postponed or
and noble Mrs. Judy Schwartz – cleared things up. She had the Panagia and told her she would be the Karaiskakis, Yannis Makriyannis, Athanasios canceled this year due to concerns about
seen them on the news the night of the parade. “They are mother of Jesus, the Son of God. The double Diakos, Rigas Feraios, Papaflessas, Constan- the spread of the coronavirus, it is important
protesting against the junta Dino, defending Freedom and the celebration honors the Mother of God, the tine Kanaris, Manto Mavrogenous, Andreas to remember the stories and struggles of
honor of the Greek people and their history.” Theotokos, and the faith that sustained the Miaoulis, Odysseas Androutsos, and Laska- the past and how the Greek nation and peo-
Thank you Mrs. Schwartz. Sometimes we need a ‘xeno’ – a Greek people through the hard years of Ot- rina Bouboulina, still inspire us today with ple still endure despite the hardships and
‘foreigner’ – with ‘philotimo’ to help us appreciate the honor of toman oppression and then through the bru- their remarkable stories. the crises. The indomitable Hellenic spirit
being a Greek – but parades help. Του χρονου! tal years of war in the fight for freedom. We also remember and honor the many continues to rise. ΖΗΤΩ Η ΕΛΛΑΣ! ΖΗΤΩ
Very few holidays have such powerful con- philhellenes who embraced the cause. Per- Η 25η Μαρτίου!
THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020 Greek Independence Day Special 3
4 Greek Independence Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020
NY Greek Independence Parade Officially Postponed Due to Coronavirus
By Christodoulos Athanasatos
ASTORIA – The New York Greek Independence
Parade, scheduled for March 29 on 5th Avenue,
was formally postponed by the Board of Directors
of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater
New York at their meeting on March 12.
“Not long ago, at the extraordinary Board of
Directors, of the Federation, as co-chair of the
Parade Committee, I called for the postponement
of all our events celebrating Greek Independence
Day, with a very heavy heart, because we have
been working for a very long time, but also with
a sense of responsibility,” said Vasilis Gournelos,
at the start of the meeting, which will be the
last.
Both Gournelos and President of the Federa-
tion Hellenic Societies of Greater New York
Cleanthis Meimaroglou, have indicated at every
opportunity that they have not yet signed the fi-
nal cancellation of the parade, leaving an "open
window" working with the City commission to
investigate possibly rescheduling the parade for
some time in May.
"It is very difficult for all of us in the Commit- TNH/ZAFEIRIS HAITIDIS
tee, as for you, but above all, the safety of all of The decision to postpone the New York Greek Independence Parade, due to the coronavirus, was made by the committee at the meeting of
us is the priority. the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York at the Stathakion in Astoria on March 12.
We do not know when the outbreak of this
disease will stop. All we could do was postpone rapid developments of the last 48 hours, stating cancel all their trips abroad. sentation at the Stathakion Cultural Center, the
the parade. If this ends by Easter, we will be that he was in contact with the Presidential “The Hellenic events and all events may be annual raising of the Greek flag at Bowling
able to have a new date in May. June is too late,” Guard about travel arrangements for the Evzones postponed, but the Federation remains open. We Green, the corresponding flag-raising event at
Gournelos said. up to the late afternoon on Tuesday, but two will be here every day,” Meimaroglou said. Athens Square, the dance event at the Cretan
For his part, Meimaroglou referred to the hours later was informed about the decision to The canceled events include the opera pre- House, and the annual Grand Marshals Dinner.
TNH/ZAFEIRIS HAITIDIS
The Miss Greek Independence Pageant was hosted by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater NY at the Stathakion
Center in Astoria on March 8.
Despina Anastasiou Crowned
Miss Greek Independence 2020
happy about it. I want to see Tsambas and the second runner
By Christodoulos pated this year: Miss Kassos, concerned the Filiki Etairia, the questions, the candidates ap- you all at the parade,” the win- up was Valia Kavrakis.
Athanasatos Kalliopi Perseli, Miss Arcadia, role of Konstantinos Kanaris, peared in evening dress. ner told The National Herald. "The girls were wonderful, as
Gianna Koulouri, Miss Athens, and three heroines of the Greek Despina Anastasiou, daugh- Her father noted that the overall was their appearance and how
ASTORIA – Despina Anastasiou, Despina Anastasiou, Miss Crete, Revolution. The religious ques- ter of Panatha USA President competition was impressive. they spoke, as they were not as
17, representing Athens, was Zoe Makropoulos, , Miss Lesvos tions concerned where the Ecu- and Loumidis Foods Sales Man- "It's so moving to see a young shy as other years. Also, their
named Miss Greek Indepen- Valia Kavrakis, Miss Sifnos, menical Patriarchate moved ager Vlasis Anastasiou and a for- person, especially your own outfits were something else. I'm
dence for 2020 at the annual Katherine Tsambas, Miss Naf- when it could no longer be mer student at St. Demetrios child, in this position. Despina glad we had a great turnout and
competition held on March 8 at paktos, Elaina Poulou, and Miss based in the Church of the Holy School in Astoria, won over the has worked very hard. She has this was one of the most suc-
the Stathakion Cultural Center Eririkousa, Marilena Xenakis. Apostles, who raised the banner judges and the audience with done a lot extracurricular activ- cessful pageants of the last 20
in Astoria. The candidates were asked, to launch the Greek Revolution, her presence, responses, appear- ities outside of school and we years. The scoring was clear and
The event was well-attended in the first phase of the pro- and why is March 25th is a dou- ance, and excellent Greek. are proud of her because she the winner was indubitable,”
and proceeded without any de- gram, to answer three ques- ble celebration. "Today was a tremendous has worked so hard. All the girls said the event's organizer,
lay to the program, though it tions. The first concerned his- There were also questions on day. I was up there with very were amazing. It is very nice to Avgerini Katechis.
took place almost simultane- torical content, the second was the crisis, on how the candidate smart girls, very beautiful, and see the youth involved with the All the participants received
ously with the rally in Athens religious, and the third was a will use her tenure as Miss with good hearts. We all tried issues of the Diaspora,” said a warm round of applause and
Square in support of Greece dur- question about the Greek Independence, and if she very hard to win this title, Miss Anastasiou. will also participate in the Greek
ing the latest refugee crisis. migrant/refugee crisis. is proud of her Greek heritage Greek Independence. It was a The first runner up for Miss Independence Parade on 5th Av-
Eight contestants partici- The historical question group and why. After answering the great experience and I'm very Independence was Katherine enue when it is re-scheduled.
The Greek Declaration of Independence
Although Greek Independence the enlightened and civilized na- termined to take arms to avenge rope, our neighbors, enjoy to- the absurd caprice of a cruel centuries; nor have we ever
Day is usually associated with tions of Europe, we who behold ourselves and our country day; rights of which the cruel tyrant who, like an infamous ceased in Hellas to defend these
March 25, 1821, it was on the advantages which they enjoy against a frightful tyranny, iniq- and unheard-of tyranny of the brigand, has come from distant rights by arms whenever oppor-
January 27, 1822, that the Greek under the protection of the im- uitous in its very essence – an Ottomans would deprive us – us regions to invade our borders? tunity offered.
Declaration of Independence was penetrable aegis of the law, find unexampled despotism to which alone – and the very memory of Nature has deeply graven these Building upon the foundation
formally issued in Epidaurus by it no longer possible to suffer no other rule can be compared. which they would stifle in our rights in the hearts of all men; of our natural rights, and desir-
the Greek National Assembly, without cowardice and self-con- The war which we are carry- hearts. laws in harmony with nature ing to assimilate ourselves to the
declaring Greece a free and tempt the cruel yoke of the Ot- ing on against the Turk is not Are we, then, less reasonable have so completely consecrated rest of the Christians of Europe,
independent state. toman power which has that of a faction or the result of than other peoples, that we re- them that neither three nor four our brethren, we have begun a
The War of Independence weighed upon us for more than sedition. It is not aimed at the main deprived of these rights? centuries – nor thousands nor war against the Turks, or rather,
lasted until 1830. four centuries - a power which advantage of any single part of Are we of a nature so degraded millions of centuries – can de- uniting all our isolated strength,
does not listen to reason and the Greek people; it is a national and abject that we should be stroy them. Force and violence we have formed ourselves into
THE GREEK DECLARATION knows no other law than its own war, a holy war, a war the object viewed as unworthy to enjoy have been able to restrict and a single armed body, firmly re-
OF INDEPENDENCE (1822) will, which orders and disposes of which is to reconquer the them, condemned to remain paralyze them for a season, but solved to attain our end, to gov-
We, descendants of the wise everything despotically and ac- rights of individual liberty, of crushed under a perpetual slav- force may once more resuscitate ern ourselves by wise laws, or
and noble peoples of Hellas, we cording to its caprice. After this property and honor – rights ery and subjected, like beasts of them in all the vigor which they to be altogether annihilated, be-
who are the contemporaries of prolonged slavery we have de- which the civilized people of Eu- burden or mere automatons, to formerly enjoyed during many lieving it to be unworthy of us,
as descendants of the glorious
peoples of Hellas, to live hence-
forth in a state of slavery fitted
25th of March Parades rather for unreasoning animals
than for rational beings.
Ten months have elapsed
Cancelled in Australia since we began this national
war; the all-powerful God has
succored us; although we were
not adequately prepared for so
SYDNEY – Following Prime derstanding of his fellow Greeks great an enterprise, our arms
Minister Scott Morrison’s an- and wider Australian society for have everywhere been victori-
nouncements about limiting the changes in the program, ous, despite the powerful obsta-
gatherings of more than 500 which is solely due to the cles which we have encountered
people and given the develop- Church’s responsibility not to and still encounter everywhere.
ments and the increasing num- endanger the wellbeing of the We have had to contend with a
ber of cases of Covid-19 (coro- participants. situation bristling with difficul-
navirus) in Australia, His Nevertheless, next year, ties, and we are still engaged in
Eminence Archbishop Makarios which is a unique and historical our efforts to overcome them. It
in cooperation with the organiz- anniversary, the 200 anniversary should not, therefore, appear as-
ing committees announced the of the Greek revolution, will fea- tonishing that we were not able
cancellation of the parades that ture parades and official events from the very first to proclaim
were scheduled to take place in which will be organized in the our independence and take rank
PHOTO ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA
Melbourne on the 22nd and in most exceptional way, to high- among the civilized peoples of
Sydney on the 29th of March. light the rich historical presence the earth, marching forward side
Furthermore, His Eminence of the Greek-Australian Commu- by side with them. It was impos-
communicated with the nity’s Orthodox tradition. sible to occupy ourselves with
Archiepiscopal Vicars in Adelaide, our political existence before we
Perth, and Brisbane, giving them His Eminence Archbishop had established our indepen-
guidelines for the activities which Makarios of Australia who dence. We trust these reasons
will occur there for the 25th of announced the cancellation may justify, in the eyes of the
March celebration, in order not of the parades for the nations, our delay, as well as
to jeopardize the participants. Independence of Greece due console us for the anarchy in
His Eminence aks for the un- to the coronavirus. which we have found ourselves.
THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020 Greek Independence Day Special 5
Drs. Spiro & Amalia Spireas
and
Sigmapharm Laboratories
HYMN TO LIBERTY - DIONISIOS SOLOMOS
(A translation in English by Rudyard Kipling in 1918)
I KNOW YOU of old Long did you dwell Oh, unfortunate one!
Oh divinely restored, Amid the peoples that mourn The only consolation you had
By the light of your eyes Awaiting some voice were the past glories,
And the edge of your sword. That should tell you to return and remembering them you cried.
From the graves of our people Ah, slow broke that day Long you have awaited
Shall your spirit prevail and no man dared call, for a freedom-loving call
As we greet you again- For the shadow of tyranny and in despair one hand
Hail, Liberty, Hail! Lay over all. hits the other one.
Lyrics: Dionysios Solomos, 1824
Music: Nikolaos Mantzaros, 1828
Adopted: 1864
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6 Greek Independence Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020
HALC: Tell Senator
McConnell to
#SanctionTurkey
TNH Staff The text of HALC’s message
follows:
WASHINGTON, DC – The Hel- Thousands of you have taken
lenic American Leadership Com- action in the last week asking
mittee (HALC) is calling on the State Department to issue a
everyone to sign a petition urg- strong statement in support of
ing support for Greece and sanc- Greece as it deals with the con-
tions against Turkey for its sequences of Turkey’s destabi-
destabilizing actions. The peti- lizing actions. Your pressure
tion specifically addresses Sen- worked, but now we need your
ate Majority Leader Mitch Mc- help again.
Connell and urges him to bring Take action here: www.hel-
the important bipartisan legis- lenicleaders.com/Sanction-
lation to the Senate floor and Turkey
hold Turkey accountable for its There’s a bipartisan bill, al-
bullying actions in the region. ready passed overwhelmingly
by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, that holds Turkey
accountable for its bullying ac-
tions in the region. S. 2641, the
Promoting American National
Security and Preventing the
Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019: AP PHOTO/DARKO BANDIC
condemns Turkey's invasion A Turkish soldier walks near migrants as they gather at a border fence on the Turkish side during clashes with the Greek riot
of Syria, its treatment of the police at the Turkish-Greek border in Pazarkule, Edirne region on March 7.
Kurds, and demands that Turkey
recall its troops; restricts the requires the State Depart- Russia. grants and trying to overwhelm Endy Zemenides
sale of defense articles, services ment to produce a report ana- Senate Majority Leader Greece’s borders. Executive Director
or technology to Turkey if they lyzing Turkey's commitment to Mitch McConnell must immedi- Please sign our petition urg- HALC
could be used by the Turkish NATO; ately bring this bill to the floor ing Senate Majority Leader Aram Hamparian
Armed Forces in Syria; imposes sanctions on senior for a full vote in the Senate. Fail- Mitch McConnell to bring this Executive Director
declares that the U.S. should Turkish government officials; ure to bring this to a Senate vote important legislation to the Sen- ANCA
oppose any loans from interna- imposes other sanctions, in- encourages Turkey to continue ate floor for a vote: www.hel- Peter Burns
HALC tional financial institution that cluding sanctions for Turkey's to act with impunity and take lenicleaders.com/Sanction- Government Relations and
Executive Director of HALC, would benefit the Government acquisition of the S–400 air and fundamentally destabilizing ac- Turkey Policy Director
Afxentios- Endy Zemenides. of Turkey; missile defense system from tions such as weaponizing mi- Thank you, In Defense of Christians
Greek Poetry for Greek Independence Day COMMENTARY
By Eleni Sakellis literary tradi-
tion and
Dante.” The Collected Works of
Dionysios Solomos are available
Miles from Athens
March is designated as Greek
History Month, culminating in
the celebration of Greek In-
the use
o f
online.
Andreas Kalvos was another
Greek poet of the Romantic pe-
with a View of Turkey,
dependence Day on
March 25. Unlikely as
it may seem today,
riod. He travelled widely in his
lifetime, but published only two
collections of his poetry, Lyra
Ikaria Fends for Itself
poets and poetry in 1824 and Lyrika (Lyrics) By Tony Glaros ried so long, she’s like my sis-
played a vital role in 1826. The themes are ter.”
in the fight for timeless ones of freedom Like virtually every square Back at the hotel in Armenis-
independence. and the love of his home- inch of Greece, the tiny island tis, we had a lively conversation
Poets galva- land. A native son of Za- of Ikaria fits the definition of with the manager. “Here, you
nized the kynthos, he studied in `quirky.’ Snug in the wine-dark don’t freak out worrying about
spirit of the Italy where he met northeast Aegean Sea, it came the time,” she proclaimed. “If
people and and became a copyist alive with tantalizing tales my you say you will meet at 5 and
energized for Ugo Foscolo, the grandmother spun when I was you end up coming at 5:30, it’s
the sup- Italian poet and rev- young. The flowing narratives, only half an hour later. Noth-
port of olutionary also born some real, others not so much, ing’s going to change in your
Philhel- on Zakynthos. Lyra were a balm. (Did I mention life.”
l e n e s by Andreas Kalvos how quirky the place is?) Thea Parikos is a second em-
around is available online Wedded to the mantra that bodiment of the Ikarian lifestyle.
t h e through Project money is always better spent on Her inn in sleepy Nas, on the
world. Gutenberg. experiences than on stuff, we north shore, is, like her, robust
Here are Love (Trilogy) traveled to Ikaria for a pilgrim- and whimsical.
a few pa- or H Agape (Trilo- age to explore my roots. As the We spent an afternoon with
triotic, gia) by Christos plane circled the island’s tiny her, luxuriating on a bluff above
spring- Christovasilis is a airport, my wife pondered my the sea. It would be hard, she
time po- powerful poem in Hellenic back story. confessed under a trellis over-
etry fa- three parts. A collec- “It’s amazing,” she observed, flowing with grapes, to retreat
vorites to tor of folklore, Chris- awed, “that all four of your to her hometown of Detroit. She
add to your tovasilis was instru- grandparents were born here on grew weary of the rat race back
reading list. mental in preserving this unforgiving landscape. Did home, and, after receiving the
The inspir- the folk literary tradi- any of them know each other as blessing of her parents, fled to
ing verses of tion of his native Epirus. children?” Ikaria.
the Greek na- Born in 1861 when I explained that each of them
tional anthem are Epirus was still under Ot- hailed from different villages.
in fact the first two toman rule, Christovasilis Then there was the reality that “Life is very small,
stanzas of the poem joined the Epirus revolt of the craggy mountains along the
Hymn to Liberty writ- 1878 as a teenager, was ar- spine of the island fostered very short.
ten by Dionysios Solo- rested twice and managed to es- xenophobia – the fear of If it is stressful,
mos on his native Zakyn- cape a death sentence. Moving strangers. then it’s in your head.”
thos in 1823 and published to Athens in 1885, he completed Island culture dictated that
in 1824 in Messolonghi. In- t h e his education, wrote books on unless you were born and raised
spired by the War of Indepen- demotic Greek history, and became a in the same town, among their Her husband, an island-born
dence, the poem is actually 158 language. journalist. Christovasilis re- goats and olive groves, you were farmer, supplies all the meat,
stanzas long and holds the 1966, it Having studied turned to his native Epirus after branded an outsider. produce, and wine for her cus-
record for the longest national was adopted in Italy, Solomos wrote the end of the Balkan Wars While Ikarians are proud of tomers.
anthem in the world. The poem as the national anthem of at first in Italian. Upon his re- when the region was ceded to their stubbornly independent “I’m not a scientist,” she be-
depicts several events of the Cyprus as well. Solomos is her- turn to his native Zakynthos, he Greece and published the news- streak – the 8,000 souls are fa- gan. “I think it’s a combination
war, including the execution of alded as the national poet of began writing in Greek as well. paper Eleutheria. The third mously Ikarian first, Greeks sec- of things. Some will tell you it’s
Patriarch Gregory V of Constan- Greece for his magnificent po- Solomos joined the local literary poem of the Love trilogy, H ond – nature has smiled on this the fresh air here, because God
tinople and the siege of ems celebrating Hellas and free- circle and met with the author Megali Idea, poignantly de- land just off the coast of Turkey. knows we don’t have a lack of
Tripolitsa. Set to music by Niko- dom, but he also helped pre- and statesman Spyridon Trik- scribes through the symbolism The ruling class in Athens, they wind.
laos Mantzaros in 1865, the serve the work of previous oupis who famously encouraged of traditional courtship practice claim, is too absorbed trying to When you live here and you
Hymn to Liberty was adopted generations and influenced the Solomos in 1822 to write in the vision of a unified Greece. figure out how to repay billions go to Athens, the air tastes foul
as the official national anthem spirit of modern Greek literature Greek by saying, “the Greek Par- The poem is available online in loans to worry about what there. We’re also isolated;
of Greece that same year. In through his study of the Cretan nassus does not yet have its through Project Gutenberg. happens here. there’s not a lot of access to
But in the last several years, health care. It’s survival of the
Ikaria has been having its close- fittest.”
up. Soufiko holds a near holy
Gerard Butler Runs the Olympic Torch Relay in Reporters and scientists have
spent a decade swooping down
to unearth the answer to a sin-
place in the mosaic of island so-
ciety. “In the Ikarian dialect,”
Parikos said, “it means “I left
Sparta, Shouts "This is Sparta" gular question: Why are so
many of its denizens living to
99, 102 and beyond?
you something.”
That something, she went
on, includes a Mediterranean
In a cozy café-bar with a hip carousel of onions, peppers,
TNH Staff vibe, I asked one of the owners tomatoes, potatoes, and olive
how to frame the answer. Look- oil. “Soufiko,” she said, “is what
SPARTA, Greece – The popular ing up from the dishes she was we have available from the old
actor Gerard Butler visited wiping dry, she paused to re- days, and we continue doing it.
Greece after being invited to flect. I find what’s abundantly in sea-
take part in the 2,500th anniver- A second later, she offered son.”
sary celebrations of the Battle this: “Life is very small, very After braving the bus ride
of Thermopylae and the short. If it is stressful, then it’s across the island, we arrived in
Olympic Torch Lighting Cere- in your head.” In a dark and one piece at the village of Glare-
mony. He was also one of the drab world, the Ikarian medi- des, from which my surname
torchbearers for this year’s cine is the one she prescribes evolved.
Torch Relay leading up to the regularly and robustly: “Having It’s a rugged, harrowing
Olympic Games in Tokyo. friends, meeting people of all climb from Ikaria’s capital, Agios
On March 12, the actor, per- ages, so it won’t make you feel Kyrikos. There’s path that con-
haps best known for his role as old.” nects to the Chapel of the
Leonidas in the movie 300, was One evening, following a Prophet Elijah. Memories of my
in Sparta, attending the Olympic repast of succulent roasted lamb late uncle, a self-proclaimed
Torch Lighting Reception Cere- and soufiko, a beloved island priest who lived, partied, and
mony and expressed his love for stew, we visited a cousin named preached here. Oh, the tales he
Greece, saying he had visited in Kostas. Like so many others took with him!
the past. He noted that he has a here, he was the personification In the car on the way back
“Greek heart.” of how Ikarians tether them- to the hotel, Parikos said that
On March 13, the Hollywood selves to the seasons. moving to such a remote spot
star lit the flame and found him- Standing like a giant teddy near the border separating Eu-
self next to the statue of the bear in blue overalls, he began rope from Asia was an epiphany.
original Leonidas holding the stuffing my backpack with just- “Coming here taught me,”
Olympic Torch ready to run the picked lemons and figs. Hope- she said. “I’ve learned that I
relay. He was surrounded by a lessly curious, I asked about his don’t need a lot of stuff. I can
crowd of people in Sparta, and marital status. go without and still be happy.”
at one point he shouted, “This EUROKINISSI/ MARKOS HOUZOURIS Gazing skyward, he sniffed, And as quirky as you want.
is Sparta,” the iconic phrase Actor Gerard Butler who played Leonidas in the film 300 runs the Olympic Torch Relay in “I sent her to the mountains Because you’re in the right
from the film 300. Sparta. with the goats. We’ve been mar- place.
THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020 Greek Independence Day Special 7
AHEPA Sends Letter to the NY Times
in Response to Allegations about Greece
TNH Staff garding the right of asylum,
which concerns only individual
WASHINGTON, DC – The Or- cases. These actions are happen-
der of AHEPA sent a letter to the ing in breach of Turkey's oblig-
editor on March 12 in response ations under the 2016 EU-
to the March 10 New York Turkey Joint Statement.
Times article ‘We Are Like Ani- Greece unequivocally exer-
mals’: Inside Greece’s Secret Site cises its sovereign right and con-
for Migrants. AHEPA Executive stitutional obligation to protect
Director Basil Mossaidis for- its territorial integrity. This pre-
warded the letter which was sent ploy is a threat to not only
written by Supreme President the security of Greece but of all
George Horiates and shared of Europe, not to mention its
with Ahepans worldwide, public health.
Greek-Americans, and organiza- Thus, the action was taken
tions of the Greek diaspora. to not accept any new asylum
Mossaidis noted that “the application for 1 month and to
Supreme President has issued request the deployment of Rapid
the following letter and we are Border Intervention teams (RA-
asking all of you to read and BITSs) by FRONTEX, the Euro-
forward to your chapter mem- pean Border and Coast Guard
bers and to send it to the NY Agency. Raising the level of de-
Times requesting they act re- terrence at the borders of
sponsibly in their reporting. Turkey to the maximum was un-
Also, please send to any media avoidable.
outlets you may have at your Greek Prime Minister, Kyri-
disposal. The Supreme Presi- akos Mitsotakis, visited on
dent is available for interviews, March 3, the GRE-TUR land bor-
please coordinate with HQ. der along with EU Com. Pres.
“Brothers and Friends this Ursula von der Leyen, EU Coun-
year our Supreme President cil Pres. Charles Michel, EU Parl.
started his year by coining the Pres Davide Sassoli, and Croat-
phrase ‘Defend Hellenism’. This ian Prime Minister Andrej
is the time to act, the time to Plenkovic in an important mes-
defend, and a time for action. TNH/KOSTAS BEJ/FILE sage of support to Greece’s at-
Join with the AHEPA to push AHEPA Supreme President George Horiates. tempts to safeguard European
back the tyrants trying to de- borders.
stroy Greece.” Syria, as well as the West’s ac- Syrian nationality (Afghanis, tions have been perpetrated by and achieve political gains, both Mr. Yaarub's death is tragic.
The text of the Supreme quiescence to its actions. Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Iraqis, Turkey in order to exert diplo- domestically and internationally. [But] The reporting of it is one-
President’s letter follows: The facts are this: Somalis). Most of them speak matic pres- Repeated statements by the sided and based upon specula-
March 12, 2020 Since Friday, February 29, Turkish, a fact indicating they Turkish leadership, including tion and questionable sources of
Letters to the Editor Greece has been subject to a have been living in Turkey for President Erdogan himself, have video footage. It fails to report
New York Times some time. been threatening Europe with the root cause of the circum-
620 Eighth Avenue This is an organized the “opening of floodgates,” stances created that led to his
New York, NY 10018
Thousands have and coordinated oper- thus allowing this situa- death, which is Mr. Erdogan’s
Dear Editor: attempted to forcefully ation that is encour- tion to develop and cre- failed policies. The United
The reporting of Greek-Turk- cross into Greece by land aged and directed ating real and severe States’ solidarity with Greece is
ish border incidents lacked by the govern- security risks for a also omitted. A senior State De-
truthfulness much less balance. and sea. There have been ment and the au- neighbor and NATO partment official stated on
(‘We Are Like Animals’: Inside no documented cases of thorities of ally, as well as the March 7 the migrants have been,
Greece’s Secret Site for Mi- Turkey through EU itself. “...misled into believing that the
grants, Mar. 10). refugees coming from various means, Turkish border road to Europe is open...”
With the longest border in Idlib, Syria. including the Police and Coastal Mr. Erdogan “opened the
Europe, Greece bears the brunt use of disinfor- Guard have ceased gates” for Mr. Yaarub and misled
whenever Turkey chooses to sudden, massive, organized and mation cam- to respond to calls him to his death. Mr. Yaarub’s
“open the gates" as Turkish Pres- coordinated pressure from pop- paigns from offi- from Greek and blood is on Mr. Erdogan’s hands.
ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ulation movements at its east- cial sources and FRONTEX counter- Respectfully submitted,
described it. However, it is un- ern, land and sea borders. state media, the parts, in a break of a George G. Horiates, Esq.
acceptable for Turkey, whenever Thousands have attempted chartering of buses modus operandi, in- President
it is in a bind of its own doing, to forcefully cross into Greece with covered license dicative of Turkey’s in- American Hellenic Educational
repeatedly to use refugees as po- by land and sea. There have plates, and the escort- tentions. Progressive Association
litical pawns to leverage support been no documented cases of ing of boats laden with ir- Due to its coordinated 1909 Q Street, NW.
from Europe and NATO. This re- refugees coming from Idlib, regular migrants by Turkish and massive nature, this relo- Suite 500
cent migrant flow surge is due Syria. To the contrary, virtually coastguard vessels. (AHEPA.ORG cation of people has nothing to Washington, DC 20009
to Turkey’s misguided policy in all arrestees are other [than of] It is clearly evident these ac- sure do with international law re- 202-232-6300
U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ Kallinikos Funeral Services, Inc.
Τοwers Funeral Home, Inc.
Letter to the Editor in the NY Times Τel: (516) 764-5191
TNH Staff
Vanella's Funeral Chapel, Inc
refugees and migrants. Greeks and Greek-Ameri-
cans are especially outraged by this article and Τel: (516) 766-0425
WASHINGTON, DC – A recent article in the New its allegations as Greece has been suffering for
York Times titled ‘We Are Like Animals’: Inside years to deal with the refugee crisis while also
Greece’s Secret Site for Migrants, has drawn crit- dealing with the financial crisis.
icism for vilifying Greece for its treatment of The Greek people’s selfless efforts to help the
refugees and migrants when they themselves have Τel: (516) 766-4424
so little has been well-documented in documen-
tary films and in the media, including in The Na-
tional Herald, which have also covered Turkey’s
destabilizing efforts in the eastern Mediterranean.
Among those giving voice to their concerns
about the Times spreading misinformation about
HAPPY GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY!
the refugee crisis is Greek-American U.S. Repre-
sentative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) who wrote a Letter ΖΗΤΩ ΟΙ ΑΘΑΝΑΤΟΙ ΗΡΩΕΣ ΤΟΥ 1821!
to the Editor, dated March 12, addressed to the
Times.
The full text of Rep. Bilirakis’ letter follows:
Re: ‘We Are Like Animals’: Inside Greece’s Se-
cret Site for Migrants
Dear Editor,
Your reporting on the crisis at the Greek-Turk-
ish border misinforms the American public at the
exact time that our government is considering
how to diffuse this crisis.
The conscious decision to not report on Turkey
organizing what the State Department has criti-
cized as the “fundamentally destabilizing” and
COURTESY OF REP. GUS BILIRAKIS' OFFICE “unsustainable”
movement of thou-
sands of people to-
wards the borders of
the EU is inexplicable.
This error is com-
pounded by the lack
of discussion of
Turkey’s geopolitical
motives, and that
those that have been
arrested are not Syr-
ian asylum seekers
but migrants from
William C. Kallinikos
Afghanistan, Pak-
istan, Bangladesh,
Iraq, Somalia, and
Krissie Kallinikos George Frangiadakis
Turkey itself.
I must also note
that all your official
sources for this article
are Turkish officials,
and your “facts” do
not match those we
Funeral Directors
have
through
ascertained
briefings
their families and personnel
THE ONLY GREEK ORTHODOX FUNERAL HOME
Congress is receiving
from the U.S. Em-
IN NASSAU COUNTY
bassy in Athens or the
ab
statements of the
We also serve the areas of Brooklyn, Queens and Suffolk County
Greek government.
The New York Times
At your service since 1994 - RESPECT AND DIGNITY
should not let its
pages be used as a
distribution center for
Turkish government
talking points. 2681 Long Beach Road, Oceanside, New York 11572
Respectfully, Tel: (516) 764-5191 • Fax: (516) 766-9454
Gus Bilirakis
Member www.Towersfuneralhomeny.com
of Congress
8 Greek Independence Day Special THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 21, 2020
Supreme President
George G. Horiates
on behalf of the entire AHEPA Supreme Lodge
and the AHEPA Family
wish to express our most sincere well wishes
to our entire community
during this concerning time.
Like in 1821 when our forefathers took on
a massive threat, AHEPA will support
our communities and continue
to Defend Hellenism.
Contact your local AHEPA chapter
and see how we are working to make our communities better.
ab
Ζήτω H 25η Μαρτίου!
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