TITLE: Recognizing March 25, 2015, as Greek Independence Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 25, 2015, as Greek Independence Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Greeks around the world are commemorating the 194th anniversary of a pivotal moment in their history with the observance of Greek Independence Day on March 25, 2015; and WHEREAS, After centuries of oppression under the Ottoman Empire, the Greeks rose up in March 1821 when the courageous Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese; the Greeks were badly outnumbered, but they adopted the cry "freedom or death" as their motto and stayed true to it; and WHEREAS, Greek representatives declared their nation's independence in January 1822 and drafted a modern constitution in a national assembly; although the struggle continued, the freedom fighters were resolved to restore the principles of democracy established by Greece during antiquity; the nation finally achieved recognition as an independent state with the signing of the Treaty of Edirne in 1829; and WHEREAS, Greece and the United States are both founded on the bedrock principle of self-determination, and they share a culture that values faith, community, civic engagement, and the democratic form of government; this significant date in the Greek calendar provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate the deep connections between our countries and to acknowledge the many contributions made by people of Greek descent to the United States and the world; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 2015, as Greek Independence Day and encourage all Texans to learn more about the history of Greece and its democracy. Bonnen of Brazoria Straus Gonz lez Paddie Allen Guerra Parker Alonzo Guillen Paul Alvarado Gutierrez Pe a Anchia Harless Phelan Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Ashby Howard Price Aycock Huberty Raney Bell Hughes Raymond Bernal Hunter Reynolds Blanco Isaac Riddle Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burns Keough Rose Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Button King of Parker Schaefer Canales King of Taylor Schofield Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Clardy Klick Shaheen Coleman Koop Sheets Collier Krause Sheffield Cook Kuempel Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simpson Crownover Larson Smith Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Dale Leach Spitzer Darby Longoria Springer Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Deshotel M rquez Thompson of Brazoria Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farias Miles VanDeaver Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Fletcher Moody Walle Flynn Morrison White of Bell Frank Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Frullo Murphy Workman Galindo Murr Wray Geren Naishtat Wu Giddings Nev rez Zedler Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Gonzales Otto Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1144 was adopted by the House on March 17, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House