Wendy Sherman: “it is indeed a pleasure to address the House while our presiding officer is a fellow representative from the San…”

“it is indeed a pleasure to address the House while our presiding officer is a fellow representative from the San Fernando Valley, the area that can best be described currently as the center of world culture. Throughout the ages, however, Greece has been the center of world culture; and that is why I am proud to join with so many members of the Hellenic Caucus in addressing the House with regard to the 179th anniversary of Greek independence. Mr. Speaker, 179 years ago, on March 25, 1821, the Greek people declared their independence, throwing off the yoke of over 400 years of Ottoman oppression. Greek patriot Regas Fereos issued the rallying cry of the struggle, shouting that it is better to be free for an hour than to have 40 years of imprisonment and enslavement. Greek freedom fighters looked to the American revolution and American democracy for inspiration, and adopted their own declaration of independence. At the same time, our Founding Fathers were guided by the democratic principles that first arose in Greece, and they took to heart the Hellenic ideals of ancient Greece, the birthplace of democracy. This is a day for us to reflect on the vital alliance between Greece and the United States and to pay our debt to Hellenic ideals and to Hellenic culture. It is a day for Greek Americans to take pride in the independence of Greece and in the ancient culture of all Hellenians.”