NORTH WILDWOOD— Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church held a celebration Saturday March 28 honoring the 188th anniversary of Greek Independence Day, March 25, 1821.
The celebration commemorated the revolution and restoration of the Greek nation after almost 400 years of occupation and enslavement to the Ottoman Empire.
Chairman Lester Katsanis, Parish Council President William Mitchell, Rev. Steven J. Vlahos, U.S. Marshal James J. Plousis, North Wildwood Mayor Bill Henfey and Wildwood Solicitor Marcus Karavan led the observance that was held mostly indoors at the North Wildwood Recreation Center due to rainy, foggy weather.
Families and children in brightly colored outfits also participated. The ceremony moved outside for the raising of the Greek flag on a flagpole next to the American Flag.
Katsanis said the move for Greek independence started many years before 1821 when Greeks began fighting the Turks as soon as they came under their rule.
Proclamations were read from President Barack Obama and Mayor Henfey
Father Demetrios Katerlis asked that Obama recognize the holocaust that took place of Christians by the Turks from 1895 to 1924 “when millions of Armenians and Hellenes and various Christians of the Near East were slaughtered in the name of their policies.”
Plousis sad the Greek nation has been “a beacon for the world for over 2,000 years.”
Henfey said the Greek community in North Wildwood “gives and gives and never takes anything.”
“We have a tremendous quality of life here in North Wildwood and the Greek community is a major factor in that quality of life,” he said.
