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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-03-25
CONTENTS
[01] Obama proclamation on occasion of Greek Independence Day
[01] Obama proclamation on occasion of Greek Independence Day
WASHINGTON (ANA-MPA) -- US President Barack Obama on Thursday signed
the annual proclamation issued by the White House to commemorate Greek
independence day on March 25, the first successful national uprising
against the dour Ottoman empire in the Balkans during the 19th
century.
"Today, as we commemorate the 189th anniversary of Greece's
independence, we reaffirm the ties that link our nations together as
allies and warm friends. We also honor the accomplishments of Greek
Americans and their immeasurable contributions to the United States.
"It was the genius of America's forebears to enshrine the pre-eminent
idea of democracy in our Nation's founding documents. Inspired by the
governing values of ancient Greece, they launched the great American
experiment. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of our Declaration
of Independence, later expressed his admiration for the Greeks and
their heritage as they fought their War of Independence. Writing in
1823, he acknowledged Greece as "the first of civilized nations,
[which] presented examples of what man should be."
"The Hellenic influence on America's scholarly traditions reflects our
Nation's high regard for Greece's lasting heritage. Our physicians
uphold the timeless ethics of Hippocrates, and our students learn the
mathematics of Euclid and Pythagoras. Our law schools use the Socratic
Method, and the structures of ancient Greece have inspired many of our
most cherished buildings and monuments. Greek Americans have also
shaped our Nation as leaders in every sector of American life, and
their community has strengthened the fabric of our country with its
vibrant culture and unique traditions.
Above all, we were blessed to inherit the Hellenic ideal of democracy,
which lives on today in Greece and America, and reinforces the enduring
bonds between our two nations.
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2010,
as "Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and
American Democracy."
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