HR0186

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


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

and
 
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    WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, the Feast Day of the 
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Annunciation, the Greek nation reclaimed its ancient heritage 
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as the "Cradle of Democracy" by throwing off the yoke of 
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oppression which had enslaved its people since the fall of 
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Constantinople in 1453; conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 
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15th century, Greece waged a successful War of Independence 
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(1821-1829) and reinstituted a democratic form of government;


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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece celebrates two important events in its 
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history on March 25, the beginning of the revolution that freed 
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the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire, and the Greek 
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Orthodox Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary;


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and
 
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    WHEREAS, It was for that reason that on March 25, 1821, 
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Bishop Germanos of Patras chose that day to deliver a message 
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of a new life to the people of Greece and hoisted the Greek 
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flag in defiance of the Turks at the Monastery of Ayia Lavra 
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near Kalavrita;

and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of the United States drew 
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heavily on the political experience and philosophy of ancient 
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Greece in forming our representative democracy;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greek Commander in Chief Petros Mavromichalis, a 
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founder of the modern Greek state, said to the citizens of the 
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United States in 1821 that "it is in your land that liberty has 
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fixed her abode and in imitating you, we shall imitate our 
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ancestors and be thought worthy of them if we succeed in 
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resembling you";

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece played a major role in the World War II 
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struggle to protect freedom and democracy through such bravery 
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as was shown in the historic Battle of Crete, which provided 
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the Axis land war with its first major setback, setting off a 
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chain of events that significantly affected the outcome of 
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World War II;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, The price for Greece in holding our common values 
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in their region was high as hundreds of thousands of civilians 
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were killed in Greece during World War II;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Throughout the 20th century, Greece was one of 
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only 3 countries in the world beyond the former British Empire 
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that allied with the United States in every major international 
 


 






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conflict;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece is a strategic partner and ally of the 
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United States in bringing political stability and economic 
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development to the volatile Balkan region, having invested over 
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$10,000,000,000 in the region;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece was extraordinarily responsive to requests 
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by the United States during the war in Iraq, as Greece 
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immediately granted unlimited access to its airspace and the 
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base in Souda Bay, and many ships of the United States that 
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delivered troops, cargo, and supplies to Iraq were refueled in 
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Greece; and

 




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    WHEREAS, In August 2004, the Olympic games came home to 
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Athens, Greece, the land of their ancient birthplace 2,500 
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years ago, and the city of their modern revival in 1896;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece received world-wide praise for its 
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extraordinary handling of over 14,000 athletes from 202 
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countries and over 2,000,000 spectators and journalists during 
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the 2004 Olympics, which it did so efficiently, securely, and 
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with its famous Greek hospitality; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The unprecedented security effort in Greece for 
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the first Olympics to be held after the attacks on the United 
 


 






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States on September 11, 2001, included a record-setting 
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expenditure of over $1,390,000,000 and an assignment of over 
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70,000 security personnel, as well as the utilization of an 
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8-country Olympic Security Advisory Group that included the 
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United States; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece, located in a region where Christianity 
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meets Islam and Judaism, maintains excellent relations with 
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both Muslim nations and Israel;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, the Government of Greece has had extraordinary 
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success in recent years in furthering cross-cultural 
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understanding and reducing tensions between themselves and 
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Turkey; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are at the forefront 
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of the effort for freedom, democracy, peace, stability, and 
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human rights; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Those ideals, as well as others, have forged a 
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close bond between these 2 nations and their peoples; and
 
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    WHEREAS, March 25, 2009, marks the 188th anniversary of the 
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beginning of the revolution that freed the Greek people from 
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the nearby Ottoman Empire; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, It is proper and desirable to celebrate this 
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anniversary with the Greek people and to reaffirm the 
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democratic principles from which these two great nations were 
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born; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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designate March 25, 2009, and each March 25th thereafter, as 
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Greek Independence Day and encourage the people of the State of 
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Illinois to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and 
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activities; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and the 
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Consul General of Greece in Chicago.