DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20

RECOGNIZING MARCH 25TH AS "GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY" IN DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, the year 2023 will mark the 202 ^nd Anniversary of Greek Independence; and

WHEREAS, Her Excellency Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, will visit the 152 ^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware on March 30 ^th , 2023; and

WHEREAS, the Greek people proudly trace their heritage back thousands of years in Europe, where they developed an advanced civilization unlike any the world had yet seen; and

WHEREAS, upon the fall of the City of Constantinople in 1453, the Greek people began almost four centuries under foreign rule in the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, in March 1821, the yearning for Greek independence inspired multiple militias to engage in battles against the Ottoman Empire including an incursion into Moldavia led by Alexandros Ypsilantis, and various skirmishes in the Peloponnese and on several islands; and

WHEREAS, on March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the Greek flag at the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese, marking the beginning of the war for independence; and

WHEREAS, in January 1822, the Greeks officially declared independence from the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, the Greeks valiantly waged war against their Ottoman rulers under the brave leadership of Theodoros Kolokotronis for almost nine years until a part of modern Greece was declared independent; and

WHEREAS, the war of independence was formally concluded in 1832 with the signing of the Treaty of Constantinople, further expanding the borders of a modern, independent Greek state; and

WHEREAS, March 25th is celebrated as Independence Day in Greece and in Greek communities around the world, commemorating the beginning of the war of independence; and

WHEREAS, throughout history, the Greek people have exhibited an enduring sense of bravery in rising up against oppressors; with Winston Churchill noting in a famed World War II speech that "Until now we used to say that the Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say: The heroes fight like Greeks;” and

WHEREAS, Ancient Greece has shaped modern society by originating the concepts of Logic, Science, Lyrics, Philosophy, and History as well as being the birthplace of democratic ideals, inspiring the notion of participation in government which influenced the framing of the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, Greece has continued to enrich our culture in the fields of literature, philosophy, and architecture, and has promoted the modern Olympic Games, hosting the first in 1896 and most recently in 2004; and

WHEREAS, we also honor Greek-Americans in Delaware who have improved our community, shown love for family, and shared with us their traditions to learn and celebrate; and

WHEREAS, it is the sense of the Delaware General Assembly to recognize those Delawareans of Hellenic descent for their enduring contributions to the educational, social, moral, and economic principles that are so deeply ingrained in the fabric of our country and State.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that March 25, 2023, will be celebrated as the 202 ^nd Anniversary of Greek Independence and that the Senate reaffirms Delaware’s abiding commitment to the magnificent principles of democracy and religious freedom.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Her Excellency Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, members of Delaware’s Congressional delegation, and Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution recognizes March 25th as “Greek Independence Day” in Delaware.

Author: Senator Mantzavinos