NEW YORK — Panepirotic Federation of America released the following statement on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the start of the War of Independence:

Today All Hellenes and Philhellenes in the whole world celebrate Greek National Day!

200 years of Liberty, 200 years of national sovereignty!

A day of proudness for the Hellenic Republic and for the Greek soul! A day of proudness for humanity in general, since it stands for ethnic sovereignty, ethnic self-determination, religious freedom, liberty, independence and abolition of slavery! Slavery of ethnic Greeks and other Christians who were often traded in the slave-bazaars of the Ottomans the same way as ‘goods’! Once again, Epirotans like Skoufas, Tsakalov, Karaiskakis, Tzavelas, Botsaris, Kolletis and others were in the forefront of organizing and giving their lives for the Hellenic cause!

Let our mind and our soul travel to the places of bravery….Aghia Lavra, Valtetsi, Tripoli, Psara, Souli, Gravia, Messolongi, Arkadi and many others! Places of battle, struggle and sorrow, but ultimately places of pride and glory! Places where David won over Goliath, where human dignity won over human oppression! Places where Hellenes proved once again the ideals that identify them, perseverance, thirst for liberty and freedom of expression and the will to fight until death for their ideals! “Eleftheria i Thanatos”, ‘Freedom or Death’!

Battles where human blood was shed so that today’s Hellenic state can stand in solid foundations! A modern European Democracy, which upholds human rights, human dignity, liberty and justice for all! A modern state with impressive infrastructure, prosperity, self-esteem and confidence, ready to tackle the challenges of the future!

Eternal Memory to our fallen ancestors and everyone who gave his life fighting for Hellenic ideals! Let us stay awaken and be ready to defend these ideals and the Hellenic State!

Let’s make sure we keep on celebrating anniversaries in the coming 200, 400….1000 years to come!

Long live the Hellenic Republic! Long live the Hellenic Spirit!

Ζήτω η Ελλάς! Ζήτω ο Ελληνισμός!

For the Panepirotic Federation of America

Ioannis (John) Katsimbaris

President