GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATED
By Jack Fichter
Cape May County Herald
48436-greek+independence+day+celebrated
March 30 2009
NORTH WILDWOOD– Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church held a
celebration Saturday March 28 honoring the 188th anniversary of Greek
Independence Day, March 25, 1821.
The celebration commemorated the revolution and restoration of the
Greek nation after almost 400 years of occupation and enslavement to
the Ottoman Empire.
Chairman Lester Katsanis, Parish Council President William Mitchell,
Rev. Steven J. Vlahos, U.S. Marshal James J. Plousis, North Wildwood
Mayor Bill Henfey and Wildwood Solicitor Marcus Karavan led the
observance that was held mostly indoors at the North Wildwood
Recreation Center due to rainy, foggy weather.
Families and children in brightly colored outfits also
participated. The ceremony moved outside for the raising of the Greek
flag on a flagpole next to the American Flag.
Katsanis said the move for Greek independence started many years before
1821 when Greeks began fighting the Turks as soon as they came under
their rule.
Proclamations were read from President Barack Obama and Mayor Henfey
Father Demetrios Katerlis asked that Obama recognize the holocaust
that took place of Christians by the Turks from 1895 to 1924 "when
millions of Armenians and Hellenes and various Christians of the Near
East were slaughtered in the name of their policies."
Plousis sad the Greek nation has been "a beacon for the world for
over 2,000 years."
Henfey said the Greek community in North Wildwood "gives and gives
and never takes anything."
"We have a tremendous quality of life here in North Wildwood and the
Greek community is a major factor in that quality of life," he said.
From: Baghdasarian