| R 166 |
| 2024 -- S 2924 Enacted 03/28/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING MARCH 25, 2024, AS THE 203RD ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY AND CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY IN GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES |
Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Gallo, Euer, Murray, Felag, Gu, Cano, F. Lombardi, Ujifusa, and Tikoian |
| Date Introduced: March 28, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the Annunciation, the Greek nation |
| reclaimed its ancient heritage as the "Cradle of Democracy" by overthrowing the yoke of |
| oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Conquered by |
| the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century, Greece waged a successful war of Independence (1821- |
| 1829) and re-instituted a democratic form of government; and |
| WHEREAS, The People of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance |
| to the Greek people during their struggle for independence; and |
| WHEREAS, The price for the people of Greece to hold onto their common values in their |
| region was high, as hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in Greece during World War |
| II; and |
| WHEREAS, Greece is one of only three nations in the world, beyond the former British |
| Empire, that has been allied with the United States in every major international conflict over the |
| last 100 years; and |
| WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity meets Islam and Judaism, |
| maintains excellent relations with Muslim nations and Israel, and demonstrates religious |
| tolerance; and |
| WHEREAS, The Ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and the northern Province of |
| Greece, Macedonia and the Hellenic descendants; and |
| WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront of the effort for freedom, |
| democracy, peace, stability, and human rights; and |
| WHEREAS, Many American Philhellenes participated and fought in the Greek War of |
| Independence. One such individual was George Wilson from Providence, Rhode Island, who |
| served as a gunman in the Greek fleet, most notably in the battle against the Turkish Navy in |
| Nafpaktos Bay, Greece; and |
| WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Greek Prime |
| Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on January 6, 2024, in Crete. The two underscored the strength of |
| the bilateral relationship and shared commitment as NATO Allies to democracy, peace, and |
| prosperity. They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The Secretary thanked the |
| Prime Minister for Greece's regional leadership, including its continued support for Ukraine, |
| delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, and for freedom of navigation |
| in the Red Sea through its participation in operation Prosperity Guardian; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates March 25, |
| 2024, as the 203rd Anniversary of Greek Independence, reaffirms Rhode Island’s abiding |
| commitment to the magnificent principles of democracy and religious freedom, and urges Turkey |
| to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby commends the Greek-American community for its |
| contributions to Rhode Island and its role as a bridge between two countries; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of |
| Cranston, the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket, the St. Spyridon Greek |
| Orthodox Church of Newport, members of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, the |
| Honorable Symeon Tegos, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in Boston, Archbishop |
| Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America. |
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| LC005438 |
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