HR0201 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0201 LRB102 17980 ECR 24750 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Greek Independence Day marks the 200th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrates democracy in Greece and the United States; and

WHEREAS, The people of ancient Greece developed the concept of democracy in which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people; and

WHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of the United States, many of whom studied Greek political philosophy in the original Greek language, drew heavily on the political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming the representative democracy of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Many Americans fought alongside the Greeks in their fight for Greek independence; stirring speeches by President James Monroe and Daniel Webster led Congress to send funds and supplies to aid the Greeks in the struggle for freedom; and

WHEREAS, The Greek national anthem the "Hymn to Liberty" includes the words "most heartily was gladdened George Washington's brave land"; and

WHEREAS, The people of the United States generously offered humanitarian assistance to the people of Greece during their struggle for independence; and

WHEREAS, Greece heroically resisted Axis forces at a crucial moment in World War II, and this forced Adolf Hitler to change his timeline, which delayed the attack on Russia; and

WHEREAS, Winston Churchill said "if there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II would have been" and "no longer will we say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks"; and

WHEREAS, Greece consistently allied with the United States in major international conflicts throughout the 20th century; and

WHEREAS, The government and people of Greece actively participate in peacekeeping and peace-building operations conducted by international organizations, including the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and

WHEREAS, Greece received worldwide praise for its extraordinary handling during the 2004 Olympic Games of more than 14,000 athletes and more than two million spectators and journalists; the government and people of Greece handled this feat efficiently, securely, and with hospitality; and

WHEREAS, Those efforts and similar ideals have forged a close bond between the people of Greece and the United States; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 25, 2021 as Greek Independence Day in the State of Illinois and join the Hellenic-American organizations, the estimated three million Americans of Greek descent, and the people of Greece in celebrating this historic milestone.