WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) celebrated Greek Independence Day at the White House on March 24, 2017. AHI President Nick Larigakis, AHI Foundation President Constantine Galanis, and AHI Board Members Leon Andris, Athina Balta, Esq., Ph.D.; Peter Bota, and Demitrios Halakos attended the ceremony officiated by President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and White House Director of the Office of Public Liaison George Sifakis also offered remarks.
“We thank President Trump for hosting this event to honor Greek Independence,” Larigakis said. “The event served to reaffirm the strong bonds of friendship between Greece and the United States, including Greece as a valued NATO ally; and to bring attention to the fact that this relationship is etched intrinsically by virtue of the noble democratic ideals and principles that guided our Founding Fathers in establishing our own country.”
To view the White House Proclamation, please click here.
To view the president’s remarks, please click here.
Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC
In addition, President Larigakis attended celebrations in New York City for Greek Independence Day. Larigakis attended a dinner, March 25, and the traditional parade, March 26.
“As we celebrate let us be reminded that the freedom we enjoy today as a Greek nation came at a high cost of many generations,” he said. “Yet that freedom continues to be threatened to this day as recent developments in the Aegean continue to remind us. Therefore, let us all be more vigilant in the understanding of the issues that continue to threaten the peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and let’s redouble our efforts to advocate for these issues to U.S. policymakers.”
AHI President Nick Larigakis speaks at a pre-Greek Independence Day Parade reception at the Plaza Hotel, New York City.
The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.