Vol. 15 Issue 15 | Wednesday, April 14, 2021
AHEPA E-News
AHEPA Visits Fort Mifflin in Tribute to
U.S. Marines Who Supported the Greek Cause
Philadelphia-area AHEPA chapters, along with the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Philadelphia, visited Fort Mifflin in tribute to the U.S. Marines who were stationed there and raised funds to support the Greek War of Independence. The event was held April 10, 2021.
In 1827, Commander Samuel Miller and his troops donated their hard-earned money toward the Greek cause. Commander Miller wrote “for the unparalleled distresses of the brave Greeks…I cannot permit the opportunity to pass, without contributing in conjunction with the officers and men attached to my command…to alleviate the sufferings of the oppressed inhabitants of the land of Themistocles and Leonidas.”
Also at the event, Supreme President George G. Horiates presented recently retired Upper Darby Police Captain Lou Panagatopoulos, Federal Special Agent Tony Ringos, and Burlington County Sheriff Anthony Basantis, with AHEPA Heroes Medals. All three recipients are Ahepans. Supreme President Horiates and Philadelphia Federation President Demetrios Rozanitis, who is a past District governor, delivered remarks.
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AHEPA Releases Global Greek Bicentennial
Schedule of Events
AHEPA, the largest Hellenic-based organization worldwide, released a comprehensive schedule of events for the Greek Bicentennial. AHEPA’s districts and chapters globally will commemorate the Bicentennial of Greece in the upcoming months, with social distancing and public health being of primary concern.
To view the schedule, which is comprised of AHEPA communities throughout America, Canada, Europe, Greece, and Cyprus, please click here.
Help Commemorate the Greek Bicentennial through Outreach and Awareness
Proclamations Received!
Thanks to your outstanding outreach and diligent efforts, AHEPA Global Headquarters has received numerous city and state proclamations to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence. The collection is presented in three parts due to file size and represents proclamations received as of April 4, 2021.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Catalog | View and Share Works that Celebrate the Bicentennial of Greek Independence and America's Contributions to it
Pictured: Daniel Webster
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence, AHEPA shares with its audience links to publications, articles, and webinars that mark Greece's Bicentennial and America’s contributions to the Greek Revolution.
Reflections on 1821: A discussion with Mark Mazower | World-renowned historian Mark Mazower, a professor of History at Columbia University, gave an online celebratory lecture co-hosted by the Consulate General of Greece in Boston and College Year in Athens. watch here
“1821 Before and After” | The Benaki Museum is offering an online preview of its monumental exhibition for the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution ahead of its physical opening to the public. Visit benaki.org
University of Michigan Classical Studies/Modern Greek | Constantine G. Hatzidimitriou, ed., “Founded on Freedom & Virtue”: Documents Illustrating the Impact in the United States of the Greek War of Independence, 1821–1829 (New York/Athens: Caratzas, 2002).
AHEPA-published book | “The 1821 Greek War of Independence and America’s Contributions to the Greek Cause“
"The Cause of the Greeks": Philadelphia and the Greek War for Independence, 1821—1828
Philhellene Samuel Gridley Howe in the Greek War of Independence (Greek Reporter)
Poetry in Honor of the Bicentennial of Greek Independence (The National Herald)
Hellenic Supreme Joint War College and Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki | From Kalavrita to Navarino - The military narrative of the revolution
Help to Pass U.S. House's
Greek Independence Resolution
House Resolution Recognizing 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence Needs More Co-Sponsors - Ask Your U.S. Representative to Co-sponsor!
Thank you to everyone who has outreached to their members of Congress and who have secured their co-sponsorships! We've received quite a few emails of your success stories.
A bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 200th anniversary of the independence of Greece has been introduced by lead sponsor U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and several original sponsors from the Congressional Hellenic Caucus.
The resolution, H.Res.246, emphasizes the hard-fought struggle for independence of the Greek people, and the historic and dynamic relationship that defines the deep American-Hellenic ties. The resolution has ten co-sponsors and rests with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
“We encourage the community to outreach to their U.S. representative to urge their co-sponsorship of the House resolution," Supreme President George G. Horiates said. "We call for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass it swiftly."
AHEPA applauded the Senate's passage of a companion bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, sponsored by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Barrasso (R-WY), on March 25, 2021, Supreme President Horiates said.
Take Action | Find/Contact Your U.S. RepresentativesAHEPA, IOCC Team-up Again to Provide More Public Health Assistance to Greece
An AHEPA-sponsored shipping container carrying $750,000 in medical supplies arrived at Thessaloniki and was delivered to the AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki on March 31, 2021, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates. AHEPA donated $21,000 to secure the container.
“Medical supplies and equipment are still in dire need in Greece, especially during the pandemic” Horiates said. “AHEPA, working in cooperation with the IOCC, is proud to be able to facilitate the shipment of a significant amount of aid to help address the medical supply shortage in Greece.”
Ahepans from Alexander the Great Chapter HJ-3, Thessaloniki, were on-hand to receive the delivery.
Background
Since 2012, AHEPA has teamed-up with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to deliver 13 containers of medical supplies to various hospitals throughout Greece, providing invaluable public health assistance to the people of Greece. Each container, which is secured with a donation ranging from $15,000 to $21,000, carries medical supplies totaling an estimated value between $650,000 and $850,000.
Update | AHEPA Cares Initiative
The AHEPA Cares initiative continues to have a global impact. We are pleased to share these recent updates.
Ahepans Donate Medical Equipment
Ahepans from Konstantinos Palaiologos Chapter HJ-41, Kalamata, Greece donated medial equipment consisting of ten magnetic panels to the AHEPA Hospital, April 12, 2021.
Hospital Director Panagioti Panteliadis and the Deputy Regional Governor for Health of Central Macedonia Christo Mitta were present. They commended and thanked the Ahepans for their donation.
Upstate NY Ahepans Volunteer at Regional Food Bank
Trojan Chapter 306, Troy, N.Y. Ahepans and their children volunteered at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, April 10, 2021. Due to the pandemic, the Regional Food Bank has a strict limit on the number of volunteer slots due to the pandemic. Chapter 306 President Bill Seamon said the volunteers sorted and packed thousands of pounds of food for distribution throughout 20 counties in upstate New York.
During the past year, the Regional Food Bank provided 48.6 million pounds of food (40.5 million meals) through daily distributions, a 41% increase over the same time period last year.
Photo Credit: Bill Seamon
Greece Is the Word in 2021
Make Reservations! | Athens Supreme Convention
AHEPA is preparing for the 99th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention to be held in Athens, Greece, July 25 to 31, 2021. The official convention hotel will be the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Updated! Reservation deadline is May 1, 2021.
Emirates Airline is the official airline partner of the 2021 AHEPA Supreme Convention. A special AHEPA-only rate will be announced in March.
Greece will be celebrating the bicentennial of its independence in 2021 and the AHEPA family will be there to join in the celebration! See you there!
New! Make Reservations | more info
Don't miss out!
100th anniversary member data project underway
AHEPA recently launched a comprehensive 100th Anniversary member data verification project, announced Supreme President George G. Horiates.
"We are requesting all members of AHEPA to contact us for this important project and encourage you to be a part of the Centennial celebrations," Horiates said, adding that members should have received an email with detailed instruction this week. "We've assembled the information currently listed in our member files and now need your help to confirm the accuracy of your data and fill in any information gaps."
Up-to-date member information is critical in helping AHEPA promote the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence through community service and volunteerism. That's why it's so important to call.
Please call 1-888-827-6103 (toll-free) to take care of this important matter today.
Calendar of Events & Deadlines
April
15 | Deadline: 2021 Supreme Convention Delegate/Alternate reporting form
May
1 | Deadline: 99th Supreme Convention Hotel Reservation
3 | Deadline: Summer 2021 The Ahepan
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