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AMERICAN HELLENIC EDUCATIONAL  PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, March 19, 2019  AHEPA Family Celebrates Greek Independence Day  at White House President Trump | Greek Independence Day Celebration WASHINGTON, DC -  The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association L-R: SOP Supreme President Vourloumis, DOP Grand President Thomas, Supreme Secretary Horiates, and MOA Grand President Tsaprailis.  (Order of AHEPA), the leading membership-based service association for the nation's millions of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, and its affiliated organizations, celebrated the 198th Anniversary of Greek Independence with the American Hellenic community at a White House ceremony held March 18, 2019.  President Donald J. Trump and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, provided remarks. "We sincerely thank President Trump for issuing a Proclamation that calls on the people of the United States to observe Greek Independence Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities," Supreme President George E. Loucas said. "We also commend the president for acknowledging a 'robust' partnership between the United States and Greece which has gained momentum following the inaugural Strategic Dialogue held between the two countries in December." The Proclamation also recognizes developments in U.S.-Greece Commercial Dialogue and in defense cooperation as well as the "profound impact" of Greek Americans upon culture in the United States. In President Trump's remarks, he saluted the service to the United States of Greek American veterans, including citing the 21 years of active and reserve service of retired U.S. Army Major Carl R. Hollister, Past Supreme President and Board of Trustees vice chairman. Loucas added, "AHEPA values the fact that representatives of the American Hellenic community have been welcome to the White House since AHEPA's meeting with President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. This recognition demonstrates that the Office of the Presidency has valued the American Hellenic community, its concerns, and its many contributions to the tapestry that is America since the time American Hellenes became organized and mobilized in the United States." AHEPA is proud that Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Gerald R. Ford were members of AHEPA. Several AHEPA family national officers attended the ceremony including: Daughters of Penelope Grand President Demi Thomas, Sons of Pericles Supreme President Gregory Vourloumis, Maids of Athena Grand President Tatiana Tsaprailis, Supreme Secretary George Horiates, Esq.; Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Carl R. Hollister, PSP; Executive Director Basil N. Mossaidis, and Daughters of Penelope Executive Director Elena Saviolakis. READ: President Trump's Proclamation READ: President Trump's Remarks More Images  # # #   AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.   AHEPA's mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.  For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.  Greek Independence Day at the White House  L-R: SOP Supreme President Gregory Vourloumis, DOP Grand President Demi Thomas, Supreme Secretary George Horiates, and MOA Grand President Tatiana Tsaprailis. The AHEPA family celebrated the 198th Anniversary of Greek Independence with the American Hellenic community at a White House ceremony held March 18, 2019.  President Donald J. Trump and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, provided remarks. "We sincerely thank President Trump for issuing a Proclamation that calls on the people of the United States to observe Greek Independence Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities," Supreme President George E. Loucas said. read full news release Civic Responsibility | Join Us for Capitol Hill Day Walk the Halls of Congress and fulfill your civic responsibility with us at our annual 2019 Capitol Hill Day, Wed., April 10. Join us and fellow advocates from across the United States to educate members of Congress and their staffs on the public policy priorities of the AHEPA family and help grow the Congressional Hellenic Caucus. With more than 100 new members of Congress, there's plenty of work to do! RSVP by Wed., March 27. More details to come!   RSVP form | promo video | 2018 highlights Make Plans Today! | 2019 Supreme Convention Chicago will play host to the 97th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, July 1 to 6, 2019. The Palmer House Hilton Hotel will be the venue.  Initial details, including hotel accommodations, can be found here. Secure the $159 plus tax per night room rate by making your reservation today!  National Scholarship Applications Available The AHEPA National Educational Foundation has posted its application for its National Scholarship program. Deadline: to apply for a National Educational Foundation scholarship is March 31, 2019. (apply now) (promo video) Apply Today! | 2019 AHEPAcademy Session  Calling all high school juniors! Join a select group of Greek American students from across the country for AHEPAcademy, an interactive leadership and professional development program. The 2019 session will be held June 23 to 29 at George Mason University (located in northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC).  Program overview Extended Deadline: April 15, 2019 Share: AHEPAcademy promo video (via Facebook) Apply Today! Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:                                  NEW!  Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   March 31 | Greek Independence Day Parade, Tarpon Springs, Fla. 31 | Greek Independence Day Parade, Baltimore, Md. 31 | Deadline: National Educational Foundation Scholarship applications April  7 | Greek Independence Day Parade, Philadelphia 10 | AHEPA Family Capitol Hill Day, Washington, D.C. 14 | Greek Independence Day Parade, New York City 14 | Greek Independence Day Parade, Detroit 15 | Deadline: AHEPAcademy application May 1 | Deadline: Summer 2019 issue of The Ahepan   (submit here)  Greek American News Digest   Editor's Note: Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.     Greece, Spain Raise Minimum Wage Despite High Unemployment The Wall Street Journal (March 17) Evangelia Koskina just received her first pay increase in six years, but she worries that it could be bad news for the café where she works. Greece, like fellow euro member Spain, decided this year to sharply increase the minimum wage, despite the legacy of high unemployment left by Europe's long debt crisis.  read more EastMed summit to send stern message Ekathimerini (March 18)   A much-vaunted trilateral summit between the leaders of Greece, Israel and Cyprus, which is to take place in Jerusalem on Wednesday with the participation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, is expected to underline the intention to build the EastMed pipeline to transfer natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe, while also sending a stern message to Turkey over its aggressive activity in the region.  read more This Is the Best Cruise Destination in the World Travel+Leisure (March 18) If you're looking for the ultimate cruise destination, one place just took the top spot in the cruise industry's Wave Awards: Greece.  read more Building bridges: Soccer diplomacy in divided Cyprus Associated Press (March 19) An initiative to build bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus faltered Tuesday after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped a soccer match over a dispute of the game's location.  read more U.S. Embassy Supports Greek Entrepreneurs at SXSW The Pappas Post (March 19) Supported by the U.S. Embassy, 13 startups representing Greece's best and brightest travelled to Austin, Texas to showcase their products and services in one of the most cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurship events in the world.  read more Israel, Greece Constructing New Radar System on Crete, Report Says Haaretz (March 19) Israel and Greece are building a new marine radar system in eastern Crete, according to a recent report in the Greek daily Kathimerini. The paper said the new surface radar will be able to track at long range, beyond the horizon, and both Israel and Greece will have access to its enhanced coverage.  read more