Sean Patrick Maloney: “I too would like to join my colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania…”

“I too would like to join my colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) in honor of the 179th anniversary that marks the Greek's national day of independence, and I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for organizing a special order each year to celebrate Greek Independence Day. Greece had remained under the Ottoman empire for almost 400 years; 400 years that Greek people were deprived of all their civil rights. Even under the threat of death, Greeks fought back by continuing to educate their children in their culture, their language, and their religion. On March 25, we celebrate this courage; this the 179th anniversary of freedom and independence for Greece. I wish we had more to celebrate today, to be able to celebrate the return of the Elgin Marbles to their homeland. The Elgin Marbles are magnificent sculptures that were created to adorn the Parthenon. Their detail and beauty are even more profound when one knows these sculptures were actually carved into the Parthenon itself after it had been constructed. However, in 1806, these sculptures were removed, sometimes broken in half, and transported to England. They are now in view in the British museum, far away from their native land. In this age of open communication, friendship, and a unified Europe, we must work together to see that these marbles will soon be returned to their homeland.”