(Astoria, New York) – Senator Mike Gianaris, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, Councilman Costa Constantinides and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz hosted a Greek Independence Day celebration at the Stathakion Center in Astoria. Queens elected officials celebrated the occasion with a ceremony recognizing Greek heritage and culture and honoring local community leaders.
Honorees at the event included Petros Galatoulas, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies, Anna and Stamatis Bililis, owners of Stamatis Restaurant, Harry Xidias of City View Pharmacy and Niko and Vicky Voulkoudis of the Christos Voulkoudis Guardian Angel Foundation.
Senator Gianaris said: “I am proud to celebrate another Greek Independence Day. There is no better place than here in Astoria, in the heart of Greek-American culture, to remember our heritage and celebrate the spirit of freedom and the desire for independence that has bound the world together for so long. America in the land of our ancestors.
MP Simotas said: “To celebrate Greek independence is to rejoice in the passion for democracy that we all share. Raising my own daughter, I am always aware of my responsibility to pass on the story of Greece’s heroic fight for freedom and justice. Today we honor six Greek-Americans who spent their lives honoring the ideals of their Hellenic heritage and who made indelible contributions to the well-being of our communities,” said Congresswoman Aravella Simotas.
Constantinides, council member said, “I join Queens Borough Speaker Katz, Senator Gianaris, and Assemblyman Simotas in celebrating our Greek cultural heritage, which has embodied democratic and civic values for a millennium. We are especially proud to honor those Greek-Americans who have worked to promote Hellenic values throughout our community. We recognize their contributions to our city. I thank everyone for attending today’s celebration and helping to promote civic engagement in our neighborhood.
Greek Independence Day is a national holiday in Greece, commemorating the start of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. This holiday coincides with the Annunciation to the Theotokos, celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Church , when the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her that she would bear the son of God.
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