AHEPA Hosts Greek Minister of Tourism

 

AHEPA E-News

AHEPA Hosts Greek Minister of Tourism

AHEPA hosted a dinner in honor of Greek Minister of Tourism Haris Theoharis, and local community leaders, in Atlanta, Ga., April 23, 2021. Supreme President George G. Horiates welcomed Minister Theoharis, who met with executives of Delta Airlines earlier in the day. Delta recently announced Atlanta as its third direct seasonal flight to Athens, Greece, beginning July 2. Supreme President Horiates and Minister Theoharis also discussed AHEPA's plans for July's Supreme Convention in Athens amid Greece's Bicentennial. Minister Theoharis, an active Ahepan, stopped in Atlanta for two days before proceeding to a conference in Cancun, Mexico.

AHEPA Commemorates the Exodus of Messolonghi; SOP-Dedicated Memorial Visited

AHEPA’s campaign to commemorate Greece’s Bicentennial continued with a commemoration of the Exodus of Messolonghi, April 23, 2021. Ahepans, representing Hellas District 25, Greece, and AHEPA Lepanto 1571 Chapter HJ-18, Nafpaktos, participated at a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the sacrifices of those whose lives were lost during the exodus. Chapter HJ-18 President Adam Vlachogiannis, who also serves as District 25 Athletic Director, and Chapter HJ-18 Vice President Stavropoulos Angelos, participated. Also, in Messolonghi’s “Garden of Heroes” there exists a monument (pictured at bottom right) erected by the Sons of Pericles in 1939 “in memory of the American heroes who fought for the freedom of the Greeks." The U.S. Congress passed a Joint Resolution (H.J.Res.294), on July 6, 1939, authorizing the U.S. President, on behalf of the Sons of Pericles, to provide for the presentation of the monument to the people of Greece on behalf of the American people in tribute to American philhellenes who “gave their services, their fortunes, and their lives to the cause of Greek Independence in the Greek Revolutionary War of 1821.”

Armenian Genocide Recognition Lauded

Supreme President George G. Horiates issued a statement that lauded President Joe Biden's recognition of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2021.   "In a victory for human rights today, AHEPA lauds President Joe Biden’s statement that the 'campaign of extermination' of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman authorities was an act of genocide...  read entire statement (Photo via U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.)

Did You Know?

Did you know the second Wednesday in April in Massachusetts is named in honor of an AHEPA Past Supreme President? On July 6, 1989, the Massachusetts state government approved that annually the governor shall issue a proclamation naming the second Wednesday in April as George Demeter Day, in honor of his “contributions to the parliamentary process and his dedication to the protection of the rights of individuals by ensuring an orderly process by which all organizations and deliberative bodies can make decisions.”  This year, George Demeter Day took place on April 14. The proclamation issued by Governor Charles D. Baker is pictured.

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.

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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. Revised! Convention Schedule Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Konstantinos Vlassis (at right) recorded a special message to the AHEPA family on the occasion of the upcoming Athens Supreme Convention. 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

May 1 | Deadline: 99th Supreme Convention Hotel Reservations 3 | Deadline: Summer 2021 The Ahepan

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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.

Why Biden’s Armenian Genocide Declaration Really Is a Big Deal Politico (April 24) President Joe Biden on Saturday issued the document Armenian Americans have pursued for decades: a declaration that the Ottoman Empire’s slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million Armenian civilians was genocide. read more 5 things to know about the latest Cyprus talks Politico Europe (April 27) For the first time since 2017, talks will take place this week on reunifying the divided island of Cyprus. read more Greek Neo-Nazi Lawmaker Stripped of Immunity by European Parliament New York Times (April 27) Ioannis Lagos, sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Greek court for his part in running the fascist Golden Dawn party, had been immune from extradition as an elected member of the European Union’s legislature. read more Greek-American NYPD Officer Anastasios Tsakos Fatally Struck at Scene of Earlier Deadly Crash The National Herald (April 27) Officer Anastasios Tsakos, 43, was on the Long Island Expressway in Queens just before 2 a.m. when he was struck by a car driven by a woman who was intoxicated and driving with a suspended license, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at a news conference. read more Greece Has Reopened to Travelers; Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Going The Pappas Post (April 25) On April 19, the Greek government announced that a phased reopening had begun, marking the first time international travelers– including Americans– could visit the country since the borders closed in March 2020. read more Delta Air Lines Announces New Flights to Greece Travel Pulse (April 19) Delta Air Lines announced it would become the first carrier to resume service between New York City and Greece. read more

City Guide 2021: Visit Greece Without Leaving Metro Detroit Hour Detroit (April 26) It was at the turn of the 20th Century that the first Greek immigrants arrived in metro Detroit and settled along Detroit’s Monroe Avenue, between Brush and St. Antoine streets. In 1912, the beginning of Greek persecution by the Ottoman Empire incited a period of peak immigration from Greece, which would last until 1917. Combined with Henry Ford’s 1914 offer of $5-per-day jobs, this caused rapid expansion of Detroit’s Greek settlement, which would one day become known as Greektown.