| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Greeks around the world are commemorating the 194th |
|
|
anniversary of a pivotal moment in their history with the |
|
|
observance of Greek Independence Day on March 25, 2015; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After centuries of oppression under the Ottoman |
|
|
Empire, the Greeks rose up in March 1821 when the courageous Bishop |
|
|
Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery |
|
|
of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese; the Greeks were badly |
|
|
outnumbered, but they adopted the cry "freedom or death" as their |
|
|
motto and stayed true to it; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Greek representatives declared their nation's |
|
|
independence in January 1822 and drafted a modern constitution in a |
|
|
national assembly; although the struggle continued, the freedom |
|
|
fighters were resolved to restore the principles of democracy |
|
|
established by Greece during antiquity; the nation finally achieved |
|
|
recognition as an independent state with the signing of the Treaty |
|
|
of Edirne in 1829; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are both founded on the |
|
|
bedrock principle of self-determination, and they share a culture |
|
|
that values faith, community, civic engagement, and the democratic |
|
|
form of government; this significant date in the Greek calendar |
|
|
provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate the deep connections |
|
|
between our countries and to acknowledge the many contributions |
|
|
made by people of Greek descent to the United States and the world; |
|
|
now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2015, as Greek Independence |
|
|
Day and encourage all Texans to learn more about the history of |
|
|
Greece and its democracy. |