AHEPA:From the Desk of the Supreme President George G. Horiates

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association From the Desk of the Supreme President George G. Horiates Supreme President's Reflections Every year when we think of the cruelty of 9/11 on its anniversary, we think back to where we were on that fateful day. On this day, 19 years ago, there was not a cloud in the sky. Terrorists flew jet airliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Brave passengers on United Flight 93 thwarted their efforts and sacrificed themselves as the plane crashed at Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania. The date itself is forever etched as a solemn worldwide day of remembrance. 9/11 is the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history and the single deadliest incident for firefighters, law enforcement officers and first responders in the history of the United States. Those attacks of evil took 2,974 promising lives. 246 victims were on the four planes from which there were no survivors, 125 victims were at the Pentagon, and a staggering 2,606 victims were in or near the Trade Center towers in New York City. Over 1,400 rescue workers have died since the 9/11 attacks. Another 1,140 responders have since been diagnosed with cancer. Countless others have been diagnosed with other ailments. Amongst the victims were 33 Greek Americans. I take this time to tell the story of one of my local community’s own, the late Danielle Kousoulis of blessed memory. She was a member of Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church here in Cherry Hill, N.J On that dreadful day, she was working in her office, on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. A vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald, executive in the World Trade Center, she was a rising star in the hub of the financial world and in the world’s capital. She was only 29 years of age and she rose above glass ceilings to be literally and figuratively on top of the world. Danielle was what you want your child to be. She was what you want your daughter to be. I can see her talking to a crowd amongst her community. I can see her speaking at a Daughters of Penelope Salute to Women banquet or at a school graduation ceremony. I can see her being a role model for our youth. Particularly, I can see her mentoring young women, in the Maids of Athena and elsewhere. It is this brilliance that was taken away not only from her family, but from all of us as a family. For all of the victims, their families and those impacted by these attacks, our inspiration is knowing that ultimate victory over oppression, hatred, and violence will endure as the AHEPA Family stands beside the families and honors the fallen. The 9/11 attacks were borne out of religious and cultural intolerance. Recent events remind us that extremism and religious intolerance threatens our Western values even today. Our Saint Nicholas National Shrine at World Trade Center will be built. AHEPA fulfilled its $1 million pledge and we ask you to continue to support this awe inspiring project.  AHEPA has always stood against cultural and religious intolerance. It is our essence.     We congratulate His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, and the Friends of Saint Nicholas on their leadership.  We look forward to its certain opening.   Through tragedy after tragedy, be it natural or man-made, America endures. And somehow, we endure stronger and wiser than before. Let us never forget the Hellenic values which gave rise to the benefits we and western civilization have enjoyed for millennia. Let us never ignore our responsibilities to our fellow man, our community and our nation. And let us never forget to thank God for the United States of America. . Defend Hellenism Join AHEPA Now ahepa.org/join