Bill Text: NY K00176 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2019, as Greek History Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 28-17)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-14 - adopted [K00176 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00176-Introduced.html

Assembly Resolution No. 176

BY: M. of A. Simotas

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        March  2019,  as Greek History Month in the State of
        New York, in conjunction with the  commemoration  of
        the 198th Anniversary of Greek Independence

  WHEREAS,  The  year  2019  will  mark the 198th Anniversary of Greek
Independence; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Greek  people  proudly  trace  their  heritage   back
thousands   of  years  in  Europe,  where  they  developed  an  advanced
civilization unlike any the world had yet seen; and

  WHEREAS, Upon the fall of the City of Constantinopole in  1453,  the
Greek  people  began  almost  four  centuries  under foreign rule in the
Ottoman Empire; and

  WHEREAS, In March 1821, the yearning for Greek independence inspired
multiple militias to  engage  in  battles  against  the  Ottoman  Empire
including  an  incursion into Moldavia led by Alexandros Ypsilantis, and
various skirmishes in the Peloponnese, and on several islands; and

  WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos  of  Patras  raised  the
Greek  flag  at  the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese, marking
the beginning of the war for independence; and

  WHEREAS,  In  January   1822,   the   Greeks   officially   declared
independence from the Ottoman Empire; and

  WHEREAS, The Greeks valiantly waged war against their Ottoman rulers
under  the  brave  leadership  of Theodoris Kolokotronis for almost nine
years until a part of modern Greece was declared independent; and

  WHEREAS, The war of independence was formally concluded in 1832 with
the signing of the Treaty  of  Constantinopole,  further  expanding  the
borders of a modern, independent Greek state; and

  WHEREAS,  March 25th is celebrated as Independence Day in Greece and
in Greek communities around the world, commemorating  the  beginning  of
the war of independence; and

  WHEREAS,  Throughout  history,  the  Greek  people have exhibited an
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 which 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; we
also 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,   The  State  of  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  2019,  as  Greek
History  Month  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  conjunction with the
commemoration of the 198th Anniversary of  Greek  Independence,  and  to
publicly  encourage  the  citizens  of  New  York  to  reflect  upon the
contributions of the Greek community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York, and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate  of  the  Greek
Orthodox Church of America.
feedback