HR0755 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0755 LRB104 21260 LAW 35952 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, March 25th commemorates the anniversary of Greek Independence Day, which honors the beginning of the War of Greek Independence in 1821; and

WHEREAS, On this day, the Greek community celebrates the bravery of its ancestors in their struggles and their relentless determination to ensure the survival of Greek heritage, culture, and religion; and

WHEREAS, In 1453, with the seizure of Constantinople, Greece unwillingly became part of the Ottoman Empire; for 400 years thereafter, the Greek people were forced to relinquish their customs, language, traditions, and most importantly, their freedom; while many Greeks fled to Western Europe, countless others who were unable to flee were subjected to many forms of oppression; and

WHEREAS, On March 25, 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution at the Monastery of Agia Lavra and declared, "Eleftheria I Thanatos", meaning "Freedom or Death", which became the cry of the War of Greek Independence; this single act is credited with inciting the people of Greece to unite together to stage a revolution and defeat the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, While the Greek armies won many battles, they were in danger of losing the War of Greek Independence by 1827; it was then that Great Britain, France, and Russia interceded, assisting the Greeks with overpowering the Ottoman forces; and

WHEREAS, On September 14, 1829, the War of Greek Independence ended with the signing of the Treaty of Edirne, which is also known as the Treaty of Adrianople; with the signing of the Treaty of Edirne, the Ottoman Empire was forced to recognize Greece as an autonomous state; and

WHEREAS, In observance of Greek Independence Day, special events are held around the world, including parades, military processions, speeches, and festivals; and

WHEREAS, The contributions of Greek culture on modern civilizations are innumerable, influencing the world in every way imaginable, from the fields of mathematics, astronomy, science, and medicine to literature, theater, philosophy, and democracy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 25, 2026 as Greek Independence Day in the State of Illinois.