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NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2019   CONTACT: AHEPA Headquarters PHONE: 202.232.6300 EMAIL: ahepa@ahepa.org

AHEPA Honors America's Fallen Heroes Washington, DC -- A proud, time-honored tradition continued Memorial Day Weekend when AHEPA family members paid their respects on behalf a grateful American Hellenic community to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, democracy, and liberty at Arlington National Cemetery.   Supreme President George E. Loucas, accompanied by his father, Emmanuel, who served in the U.S. Navy Reserves; and his son, Emmanuel "Max," and Col. Nicholas P. Vamvakias (USA, Retired), chair of the AHEPA Veterans Committee and past supreme treasurer; placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery, on behalf of the American Hellenic community, May 24, 2019.  An Honor Guard Specialist from 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) assisted them and a U.S. Army Band Bugler played Taps.  Since 1924 Ahepans have returned annually to Arlington to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Brother Emmanuel Loucas, Supreme President Loucas, his son, Max, and retired Colonel Vamvakias. "This was one of the most powerfully moving experiences of my life," Supreme President Loucas said. "Today, we honored the sacrifices of those throughout our nation's history who paid the ultimate price, and we expressed-in a small yet significant way-our community's gratitude to our nation's fallen. It was also especially meaningful to perform this ceremony at this time in our nation's history when our brave men and women continue to be in harm's way." Close to 600 Gravesites Memorialized   AHEPA family members from the mid-Atlantic Region gathered to memorialize those identified as Greek Americans or Greek Orthodox who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, May 25, 2019. According to organizers, there were an estimated 568 gravesites at which AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope members presented a wreath and paused in remembrance of those who perished for our nation. This solemn ceremony has been performed annually since 1949. "I commend the AHEPA family of the metro Washington, DC area for its carefully detailed effort to honor properly the memory of the brave souls of our community who sacrificed for our freedom," Supreme President Loucas said. District 3 AHEPA family members gather at The Seabees Memorial.  # # # AHEPA Honors America's Fallen Heroes   A proud, time-honored tradition continued Memorial Day Weekend when AHEPA family members paid their respects on behalf a grateful American Hellenic community to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, democracy, and liberty at Arlington National Cemetery.  our recap here   Notice of Funding Availability for New Construction of HUD 202 Affordable Elderly Housing  Has your chapter been interested to provide dignified, affordable housing to our nation's low-income elderly through the AHEPA National Housing program? Then now might be a good time. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a round of funding availability (NOFA) for the construction of new Section 202 affordable housing for the elderly--the first such announcement in several years. If interested, AHEPA Management Company has outlined what your chapter needs to know about how to proceed, including who to contact. The deadline to apply is August 28, 2019. Learn More: NOFA Fact Sheet from AHEPA Management Company  Supreme President Loucas Honored by Hometown Community Supreme President George E. Loucas received accolades for his leadership of AHEPA from community leaders of his hometown city of Weirton, W.V., May 25. Among the accolades included the presentation of the Key to the City by Mayor Harold E. "Bubba" Miller.  Media coverage: A Weirton native recognized as Supreme President of a national fraternal organization(WTOV9 Fox) AHEPA Mourns Passing of PSG Tsagaris AHEPA mourns the passing of Past Supreme Governor Steve J. Tsagaris, who died on May 27, 2019. Brother Tsagaris, 91, was a 70-year AHEPA Life Member. In the ultimate act of gratitude and respect for his decades of unwavering service, Tsagaris' brothers of AHEPA Chapter 356, Clearwater, Fla., named the chapter after him several years ago. "We are deeply saddened with the news of the passing of Brother Tsagaris," Supreme President George Loucas said. "Brother Tsagaris devoted a lifetime of service to AHEPA and the community he loved so dearly. A pillar of the community, and mentor to many, Brother Tsagaris will be remembered fondly by all whose lives he touched. He will be missed. Our deepest sympathies are with the Tsagaris family. May his memory be eternal." 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!  Attention Chapters: Report your delegates/alternates! Reporting Form (PDF) Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:                                    Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   June 3 - 16 | Purchase delegate/alternate Supreme Convention packages online 13 | AHEPA's Sixth "Milk for Flint" Drive July 1 - 6 | 97th Annual AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, Chicago 5 -7 | Sons & Maids Reunion Weekend, Chicago 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.     Greek Snap Elections Send Bond Yields to Record Low Levels Bloomberg (May 26)   Greece is headed for a snap election after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras suffered a crushing defeat in European Parliament elections, a move applauded by investors early Monday with yields on 10-year bonds falling to the lowest level since Bloomberg began compiling data.  read more US lawmaker: east Med cooperation to counter Russia Associated Press (May 27) The U.S. wants to work with Cyprus and ally Israel to buttress peace in the eastern Mediterranean and to head off Russian influence over the region's energy reserves, a senior U.S. lawmaker said Monday. read more Opinion | Greece: America's New Key Strategic Partner Newsweek (May 23) Tectonic shifts are underway in the Eastern Mediterranean. Some pose growing threats to American interests and allies, others offer new prospects for stability and prosperity. Washington now must develop a coherent regional strategy that addresses these challenges and capitalizes on these opportunities.  read more Cyprus elects first Turkish Cypriot as MEP France 24 (May 26)   The European vote in Cyprus produced a landmark result on Sunday when a Turkish Cypriot was elected as an MEP for the first time on the ethnically divided island.  read more US Ambassador meets the Ecumenical Patriarch in Athens Ekathimerini (May 24) US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt met Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios on Friday, ahead of the latter's visit to Washington this fall, stressing he felt honored to see the head of the Orthodox church. read more New York's Vanishing Diners New York Times (May 24)   Louis Gritsipis insists he will never sell his diner in Hell's Kitchen, although developers have had their eyes on it for years. "I'll never retire," Mr. Gritsipis, 79, said. "If you retire, you're dead."  read more Analysis | As ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos must navigate the Donald Trump challenge Australian Broadcasting Company (May 27) The man once labelled "the real deputy PM" will now occupy the most important Australian ambassadorship in the world.  read more