Reception Honoring Greek Independence Celebration
Hosted by Mayor Daley

By George Chiagouris

CHICAGO, IL - On Wednesday evening, March 12, 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley had a reception at the Chicago Hilton to celebrate the Hellenic Independence and Heritage Day with the Greek Community of Chicago. At this reception there were a number of local leaders of the Hellenic Community as well as honorees that were recognized for their outstanding service to the Chicago Community. The guests included Bishop Demetrios of Mokisos, representing Metropolitan Iakovos and the Counsel General from Greece Athanasios Petrovas.

Mayor Daley was then introduced and said a few words regarding the Parade Celebration as well as the contributions made by the Greeks in Chicago and abroad. He also related how much he and his wife enjoyed their visit to Athens last year and how well he was treated by the Greek leaders and the people of Greece. He also emphasized how much he appreciated the support and cooperation that he has received from the Greeks in Chicago.

Enosis President Demetri Georgakopoulos was then introduced and said a few words in both English and Greek. Mr. Georgakopoulos thanked the Mayor for supporting tonight’s reception. He then mentioned why we sometimes call these celebrations Hellenic Independence Day and we also use Hellenic Heritage celebrations.
The first pertains of course to the Revolution of 1821 through which Greeks obtained their Independence from the Ottoman Empire that was controlling them close to 400 years. The second pertains to the legacy of the many contributions that the ancient Hellenes gave to the civilized world over 3,000 years ago. Mr. Georgakopoulos reminded the Mayor that one of these contributions was the Olympic Games which were initiated in Olympia, Greece during the year 776 B.C.  He added that this year the Enosis Board decided to use the Olympics as the theme of the 2008 Hellenic Parade.

Mr. Georgakopoulos indicated further that under the leadership and vision of Mayor Daley, the Olympics could be brought to Chicago in 2016. He then assured the Mayor that the entire Hellenic Community of Chicago, as well as Hellenes throughout the USA, are pleased and honored to support his efforts in every way to bring the Olympics to Chicago in 2016. Furthermore, he thanked the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee for joining us  in the Hellenic Parade with a very extensive and impressive float, down Halsted Street in Chicago on March 30, 2008, starting at 2:30pm.   

The three individuals honored were Mrs. Eleni Bousis, Mr. Spiros J. Arvanitis and Mr. Christopher Janus. A special presentation was made to Mayor Daley of a beautiful original painting of Ancient Atlantis by noted Greek Artist Spiros Gardiakos. Before the speeches and presentations, the guests were treated to some delicious hor’s dourves and refreshments, compliments of the City of Chicago. A group of Pontian children dressed in their Pontian costumes danced for the assembled guests to close the program.

Mrs. Bousis, President of the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre, for which she has raised 4.5 million dollars, was honored for her many contributions in general and to the Greek Community, some of which also include co-founder of Frontida, an abuse center in Greece and an orphanage in Kenya.  She is a Board Member of Little City Foundation, and was named Hellene of the Year/Woman of the Year by the Hellenic Bar Association in November of 2007.

Mr. Spyros J. Arvanitis was Secretary General of Enosis from 1986-1988, and was instrumental in June, 1996, with the assistance of Mayor Daley’s Office of Special Events, in rerouting the Olympic Flame going to Atlanta through the Halsted Greek Town neighborhood.  Mr. Arvanitis’s rhyming translation of the Olympic Anthem into English has been made a part of the United States Copyright Office.

Mr. Christopher Xenopoulos Janus’s accomplishments and contributions are quite numerous.  He is the founder and publisher of the Greek Heritage Quarterly, reviewed by the New York Times as one of the best publications of its time. With Spyros Skouras he founded the Greek War Relief during WWII and served as chairman of the committee in Chicago. He has written some ten award winning books, one of which was made into a Disney movie “Goodbye Miss 4th of July”.
At age 97 he still writes a weekly column for five newspapers.

Posted March 19, 2008.