AHEPA:"Happy Independence Day!"

 

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org For Immediate Release | July 4, 2026   Dear AHEPA Family, Supporters, and Friends: Happy Independence Day! AHEPA wishes you and your loved ones a happy, safe, and memorable Fourth of July. Whether you are celebrating at a parade, enjoying time with family and friends, or gathering for a backyard barbecue, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the meaning of this historic day and give thanks to those whose vision, courage, and sacrifice made our nation's freedom possible. The Founding Fathers of the United States drew heavily upon the democratic ideals first conceived by the ancient Greeks, as well as the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. The influence of classical Greek thought on the formation of our republic is unmistakable, reflected in the writings and debates that shaped our nation's founding. Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, described Greece as "the first of civilized nations [which] presented example of what man should be." As our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, we honor the enduring principles upon which the United States was founded - principles inspired in part by ancient Greece and sustained through generations of Americans who have defended them. We remember with gratitude those who have served and sacrificed to preserve our nation's ideals of democracy, liberty, equality, and the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. On behalf of AHEPA, we wish you a joyful Independence Day as we commemorate this historic milestone in our nation's history.  Learn more about the Declaration of Independence here.  Fraternally, E. Chris Kaitson Supreme President Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, 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.