LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 2014, as Greek-American History Month in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, The year 2014 will mark the 193rd Anniversary of Greek Inde-
pendence; and
WHEREAS, This Independence was won on March 25, 1821, when the people
of Greece were released from nearly four centuries of rule by the Otto-
man Empire under the leadership of the heroic Theodoros Kolokotronis;
and
WHEREAS, Under Kolokotronis's leadership, the people of Greece formal-
ly declared their sovereignty, ending a hard-fought 11-year war which
finally secured their freedom and garnered recognition as a sovereign
country; and
WHEREAS, Throughout history, the Greek people have continuously exhib-
ited this enduring sense of bravery in rising up against oppressors;
with Winston Churchill noting in a famed World War II speech that "Until
now we used to say that the Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say:
The heroes fight like Greeks."; and
WHEREAS, Ancient Greece has shaped modern society by originating the
concepts of Logic, Science, Lyrics, Philosophy, and History as well as
being the birthplace of democratic ideals, inspiring the notion of
participation in government that influenced the framing of the United
States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Greece has continued to enrich our culture in the fields of
literature, philosophy and architecture and has promoted the modern
Olympic Games, hosting the first in 1896 and most recently in 2004, and
we honor Greek-Americans in New York who have improved our community,
shown love for family, and shared with us their traditions to learn and
celebrate; and
WHEREAS, The great State of New York has been blessed in many ways,
including through the presence of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America; it serves as a beacon of moral and ethical guidance throughout
the hemisphere from its Manhattan headquarters; and
WHEREAS, New York is further enhanced by its long-standing partnership
with the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies, which continues its
tradition of strong leadership within the Greek-American community; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
New Yorkers of Hellenic descent for their enduring contributions to the
educational, social, moral and economic principles that are so deeply
ingrained in the fabric of our country and state; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2014, as Greek-
American History Month in the State of New York, and to publicly encour-
age the citizens of New York to reflect upon the contributions of our
Greek community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York; and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Ortho-
dox Church of America.