It’s no coincidence that a monument honoring Greek-Americans who fought in the battle for Greek independence is located in Aurora.
It pays tribute to the community that grew up in the city thanks to this independence and the welcoming character of the city.
Father Panagiotis Boznos of St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church reminded Greek Aurorans who gathered Monday to raise the Greek flag in honor of the country’s 203rd independence celebration.
“Aurora has been home to a thriving Greek community for decades,” he said.
It was this community that founded the city’s Greek Orthodox Church in 1965, first on Galena Boulevard and later in the larger church where it stands today on Fifth Avenue in Aurora.
The church is “the heart and soul” of the Greek community here, said Alex Alexandrou, the son of Greek immigrants and also the municipality’s general manager.
Alexandrou joked that it all started in Greece. But Mayor Richard Irvin said Alexandrou was only partly joking when he “reminds me of it every day.”
Irvin emphasized that it was the democratic principles born in Greece that inspired America’s founding fathers and that in return, Americans strongly supported Greece when it fought for and won its independence this week in 1821.
“This is a national day of celebration of Greek and American democracy,” he said.
Ald. Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward, a Greek American who is a city council member, said people should remember “all those of Hellenic descent” who shed sweat and tears for decades to help to build Aurora.
“They paved the way for someone like me to represent our history and heritage as an alderman in Aurora,” he said.
The city honored Greek-Americans by raising the Greek flag at One Aurora Plaza. And even though rain forced most of the celebration indoors, officials still honored Greek Aurorans for their contributions to America and Aurora.
Irvin awarded what he calls the Optimum Participation in Aurora award, which creates the acronym OPA.
An award was given to Niko and Fanny Andriopoulos, who owned the Papa Bear restaurant in town for 36 years and then, after it closed, opened Gyro Pit on East Indian Trail.
Another went to Bill Deligiannis, for some of the community work he has done with the East Aurora Sports Scholarship organization, the East Aurora Education Foundation and as founder of the Tomahawk Turkey Trot, which raises funds for students every Thanksgiving.
He was born and raised on the East Side of Aurora.
“I am very proud to be Greek by blood, Aurorian by birth and Christian by baptism,” he said.
Another OPA award went to Penny Deligiannis, a woman who has worked around the world with the Greek Orthodox Church on projects aimed at bringing development and peaceful resolution to violent situations.
She previously won the Aurora Hometown Hero Award in 2009.
slord@tribpub.com
