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Orthodox Observer - April 5, 1997

Mayor Issues Proclamation for Greek Independence Day

MAYOR GIULIANI presents proc- lamations to Archbishop Spy- ridon and Consul General of Greece Haralambos Rokanas in a March 21 ceremony at City Hall.

(Orth. Observer photo)

NEW YORK. — Mayor Rudolph Giuliani proclaimed the week of March 23 as Greek Independence Week in New York during a ceremony at City Hall with members of the Greek-American community. Accepting the proclamation on behalf of the community was His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America.

"For more than one hundred years, New Yorkers have celebrated Greek Independence Day with our Hellenic communities. "Mayor Giuliani said. "In fact, the Greek flag was first flown over City Hall in 1893 to honor Greek Independence. We continue that great tradition here today."

"Freedom usually comes with a price," the Mayor observed. "For Greece, the price of freedom from the Ottoman Empire was eight long years of war. And for their hard fought victory against oppression, Greeks earned the respect and admiration of the entire world. And perhaps it is our mutual roots of revolutionary independence that have attracted so many Greek immigrants to our City."

As he does every year, Mayor Giuliani was in the line of march on Sunday, March 23rd, when the Greek Independence Day parade moved up Fifth Avenue.

The parade, organized by the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, a non-profit organization made up of more than 200,000 Greek-Americans, this year marks the 176th anniversary of Greek independence and celebrates the culture, heritage and history of New Yorkers of Greek ancestry.

Mayor Giuliani was Grand Marshal of last year's parade. Also participating in the ceremony were officials of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York. A musical program by the Makedonia Ensemble followed the ceremony.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1126 - April 5, 1997 - p. 3 ]