TheLeader VOLUME XXV ISSUE2 Spring2024 - Flipbook - Page 25
The Greek Presidential Guard, the Evzones, in Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City.
Honorary Grand Marshals
were Dionysios (Fredi)
Beleri, Elected Mayor of
Himarra, Northern Epirus,
who is unjustly and
unlawfully imprisoned by the
Albanian authorities (in
absentia), and Mayor of
Chios Dr. Ioannis M.
Malafis.
The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, was also
present and declared his admiration for the Greek
diaspora in New York City. Local politicians also in
attendance were Senate Majority leader and New York
Senator Chuck Schumer, New York Senator Andrew
Gounardes, New York Senator Michael Giannaris,
Representative Nicole Malliotakis, and New York State
Assemblyman Mike Tannousis.
Dignitaries from Greece present were Ioannis
Plakiotakis, First Vice President of the Hellenic
Parliament; Stefanos Kasselakis, President of the main
opposition party SYRIZA; Ambassador of Greece to the
United States Ekaterini Nassika; Filippos Fortomas, MP
(New Democracy), Chair of the Parliament Committee
for the Diaspora Hellenism; Theofilos Xanthopoulos,
MP - SYRIZA; Milena Apostolaki, MP - PASOK; Nina
Kassimati MP - SYRIZA; Rena Dourou, MP - SYRIZA;
Evangelos Meimarakis, Member of the European
Greek Schools march in Greek Independence Day Parade in New York City.
Parliament; Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, Permanent
Representative of Greece to the United Nations.
Dignitaries from Cyprus in attendance included Alexis
Vafiadis, Minister of Transport; Ambassador Maria
Constantinidou, Commissioner for Overseas Cypriots;
Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States Evangelos
Savva; and Ambassador Maria Michail, Permanent
Representative of Cyprus to the UN. Consul General of
Greece in New York, Konstantinos Konstantinou, and
Consul General of Cyprus in New York, Mihalis Firillas,
were also in attendance.
Hundreds of participants joined with Churches, Greek
Schools, and other groups, such as GOYA and AHEPA,
to march in the parade. Children waved Greek flags with
beaming smiles and shouts of "Ζήτω ἡ Ἑλλάδα!" were
heard throughout the entirety of the day. The Greek
Independence Day Parades across the country and in
New York City are wonderful celebrations and reminders
of Greek heritage, culture, and the resilience of the
Heroes of 1821.
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