The parade of the Greek expatriate community in the heart of Manhattan for the anniversary of the National Regency was held with great pomp

With the participation of thousands of expats, dozens of clubs, communities, schools and organizations from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Canada and Greece, the great Greek parade for the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence took place on Sunday, April 26, on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue, confirming once again the symbolic character of the leading event of expatriate Hellenism.

The parade started at 1:30 noon under the auspices of the Federation of Greek Associations of Greater New York, with Lou Katsos as this year’s president, Yannis Stroumbakis, George Paralemos, George Venizelos and George Meidasis as vice presidents, Georgia Kontzamanis as executive director, and Stavros Papagermanos as administrative director.

The grand marshals of this year’s parade were businessman John Katsimatidis and shipowner Nicolas Tsakos, while the organizing marshals were the Hellenic Initiative and Capital Link of Nicolas and Olga Bornozis. The honorary masters of ceremonies were the Bishop of Kalavryta Ieronymos and the political commander of Mount Athos, General (retired). Alcibiades Stephanis.

The parade was opened by the New York State Police Mounted Guard, followed by the Confederate banner and the flags of Greece and the United States, as well as historical banners of the Greek Revolution, including those of Kalavryta, Kalamata, Mani, the Exodus of Messolonghi, Crete, Pontus and Regas Feraios. The same session was attended by representatives of the governments of the United States, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, as well as official guests.

The presence of the Presidential Guard Euzones was particularly moving, as they awestruck the spectators with the crack of their rifle spikes. The Euzones proudly paraded in remembrance of the immortal heroes of the 21st century and were applauded all the way. Also special was the carrying of the Acropolis flag by honor students of Greek communities.

The Corfiot Philharmonic Orchestra “Spyros Samaras” from Corfu, the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki, a cultural and dance group from Larissa, as well as a delegation from the Region of Western Greece also participated.

Dozens of floats and representatives of Greek Orthodox parishes, communities and organizations, including the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the Academy of St. Basil, the Holy Church of St. Nicholas at Point Zero, participated in the main part of the parade to the sound of Greek marches – such as “Macedonia Xakousti”, The Pancyprian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations FCAO, the Cyprus American Chamber, the Pancyprian Union of America, AHEPA, the Pan-Arctic Federation, the Cretan organizations of New York and New Jersey, the Hellenic Medical Society, the Hellenic Association of Lawyers and the Union of Greek Women Professionals.

Dozens of historical and local associations, such as the Pontians, Chians, Macedonians, Epirus, Lakonians, Dodecanese, Messinians, Thracians, Samians and Corfiots, as well as Greek schools, student and student organizations from North American universities, were also present. There was a large participation of young people, with university associations and student clubs giving a strong “presence”.

Greece was represented by the Speaker of the Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, as well as MPs Athanasios Papathanasis from the Southwest and George Gavrilos from SYRIZA. The parade was also attended by the Regional Governor of Western Greece Nektarios Farmakis, the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands Ioannis Trepeklis, the Mayor of Lemnos Eleonora Gerga and the Mayor of Messolonghi Spyridon Diamantopoulos.

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The Republic of Cyprus was represented by Rev. Myrianthi Spathi and the Consul General in New York Kyriakos Poyatzis.

The parade was presented by Dimitris A. Filios, Dimitris Filippidis, Michael Stratis and Marianna Apostolatou.

Significantly, security and public service agencies were also in attendance, including the NYPD ceremonial band, representatives from the Fire Department, the Department of Corrections, the Parks Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Customs and Border Protection.

The spectators along 5th Avenue applauded continuously every part of the procession, in a successful parade that once again combined historical memory, church presence, collective organization and a strong message of preserving Greek identity to the younger generations of the diaspora.

Earlier in the day, the official gala service was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Manhattan, presided over by Archbishop Elpidophoros, Archbishop of America.

“We are here to make a pledge, all of us together, that of course we are fighting for democracy and peace throughout the world, but if necessary we pledge, under the gaze of the Virgin Mary who looks down on us from above, that we will do the same as our ancestors, even sacrificing our lives, in order to defend the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of our homeland. Happy Birthday Greece, Happy Birthday Cyprus” said the Speaker of the Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis after the end of the ceremony.

The Mayor of N.

“Independence is no small thing. It is a triumph in the face of adversity, a rejection of oppression, a testimony of small acts of solidarity which, year after year, have developed into a movement. It is not something that is given away. It is something that is conquered. In every version of it, wherever it has taken place – in Greece, in the United States, all over the world – the work of independence has been the work of the people,” Mamdani said.