WASHINGTON-
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
(AHEPA), the nation's largest
and oldest American-based Greek heritage
grassroots membership
organization, has initiated a campaign to promote
Greek Independence Day by
encouraging state governors and legislators to
issue proclamations observing
the 184th anniversary of the event,
announced
Supreme President Franklin R.
Manios.
"It is crucial for all
Greek-Americans and Philhellenes to become involved
and do what they can to
ensure Greek Independence Day is honored at the
federal, state, and local
levels of government," said Manios. "The
ancient
Greeks forged the notion of
democracy which inspired our nation's Founding
Fathers to create our form of
representative government."
"We celebrate Greek
Independence Day for numerous reasons; one of them
being
the reaffirmation of our
common democratic heritage," he added.
In addition to requesting
proclamations, AHEPA will encourage its chapters
and districts to request that
the Greek flag be raised above State Capitol
buildings. According to
Manios, all 50 governors have been contacted.
"The active
participation of every member of our community is needed to
ensure the success of this
endeavor, " the supreme president said. "If
the
President of the United
States can commemorate Greek Independence Day,
then
so too can all our states and
municipalities."
Every year the AHEPA family
celebrates Greek Independence Day worldwide
through events and parades in
the United States, Canada, Australia,
Greece,
and Cyprus. This year,
an AHEPA family delegation led by Supreme
President
Manios will be in Athens on
March 25.
"We are extremely
excited to be in Athens on such an important day for the
Hellenic Republic," said
Manios. "Our delegation is looking forward to a
memorable experience."
For a sample letter or
proclamation, please visit
http://www.ahepa.org/news/releases/2005/0308.html.
The mission of the AHEPA
family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism,
education, philanthropy,
civic responsibility and family and individual
excellence.
The AHEPA family consists of
four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of
Penelope, Sons of Pericles
and Maids of Athena.
