Patrick Kennedy: “Today is a great day in Greece's history for we are once again celebrating the independence of Greece, one of our…”

“Today is a great day in Greece's history for we are once again celebrating the independence of Greece, one of our Nation's closest allies. I want to commend the gentleman from Florida, for assembling this special order and for organizing the congressional caucus on Hellenic issues. I am pleased to be part of an organized and concerted effort to speak out on those issues which are important to Greece, Cyprus, and our constituents of Hellenic descent. It is time to celebrate the beginning of Greece's struggle for independence from the oppression of the Ottoman Empire. The people of Greece began their struggle for freedom on March 25, 1821. The colonists of America offered an example to Greece in the struggle against oppression, and, also, Athenian democracy was an inspiration to our revolutionary heroes. Today, we honor the ties between these two countries. Each day that we meet is a celebration of the debt America owes to Greece for founding the idea of democracy. We pay homage to this every day when we meet and debate and vote and freely share ideas. Furthermore, there is much to be attributed to the hard work of the sons and daughters of Greece who have come to the United States have made a tremendous impact on their communities.”