sign in sign up
<<
Home , Athanasios Diakos, Enosis, Hymn to Liberty, Ioannis Kapodistrias, Kingdom of Greece, London Protocol (1828)

MARCH 26, 2016 Celebrating Greek

Honoring the Hellenic Triumph of Liberty

THODOROS VRYZAKIS, THE SORTIE OF MESSOLONGHI (1853), NATIONAL GALLERY

The National Herald T H D E L N A AT ER IONAL H www.thenationalherald.com 2 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016

The National Herald Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe: A weekly publication of the NATIONAL HERALD, INC. (ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ), reporting the news and addressing the issues of paramount interest to the Greek American community of the of An Unsung Hero of 1821 America.

Publisher-Editor Antonis H. Diamataris By Constantinos E. Scaros But there are countless others who were Howe also helped to form a colony for Assistant to Publisher, Advertising Veta H. Diamataris Papadopoulos instrumental to the cause, and among them, exiles at ’s isthmus, which he ac - Special Section Editor Constantinos E. Scaros hen reflecting on the ’ quite notably, several who devoted their counted in his 1828 book Historical Sketch Production Manager Chrysoula Karametros struggle for independence from lives – and risked them – for the cause, even of the Greek Revolution. the , the as they were not of Greek origin. These he - Howe then headed to to continue Wnames that most readily come roes serve a special place in the annals of his medical studies, and his spirit for revo - 37-10 30th Street, LIC, NY 11101-2614 to mind in delineating the Heroes of 1821 Greek history, because they were not born lutions leading to republican forms of gov - Tel: (718)784-5255 • Fax: (718)472-0510 include , , into Hellenism, they willingly embraced it ernment compelled him to join the July Rev - e-mail: [email protected] Theodoros Kololotronis, and Yannis voluntarily. olution of 1830, commonly known as the Democritou 1 and Academias Sts, , 10671, Makriyannis, among others. Not least among these unsung heroes of Second . Tel: 011.30.210.3614.598 • Fax: 011.30.210.3643.776 1821 is Samuel Gridley Howe. Though he e-mail: [email protected] is most significant to Greek history for his ABOLITIONISM role in the Greek War of Independence, it would be an injustice to omit his remarkable Having embraced the revolutionary life and achievements beyond that cause. causes of two foreign countries, it was in - Greek Independence evitable that Howe would return to the JEFFERSONIANS United States and help his native country IN ADAMS COUNTRY achieve a type of revolution of its own: the Measured in Days, Years, abolition of slavery. Howe was born in 1801 to a family of He helped found the antislavery news - Bostonians with English roots, but the paper the Boston Daily Commonwealth, and and Centuries Howes were distinctively Jeffersonian De - the Howes’ home in Boston was a safe house mocratic-Republicans in the land of John of the Underground Railroad, which helped Adams Federalists. The Howes were partic - slaves escape the South and flee to a new By Constantinos E. Scaros ularly inspired by Jefferson’s commitment life in the North. to liberty and found the spirit of indepen - During the Civil War, Howe, now in his This special insert is here just in time for March 25, the official dence manifested in the French Revolution sixties, was called upon to put his medical appealing. Howe’s father, Joseph, in fact, skills to great use once again. He traveled date on which Greek Independence from the Ottoman Empire, is refused to allow his sons to attend Harvard throughout the United States and to Canada celebrated. University, dismissing it as a “den of Feder - to check the physical condition of slaves that But there is less historical accuracy and significance about the alists.” Accordingly, Samuel attended a rival were emancipated by executive order, Pres - date than there is about the notion of eleftheria – liberty. Ivy League institution, Brown University, ident Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation but then enrolled at Harvard Medical School Proclamation (slavery had not officially been March 25, 1821 is the widely accepted date of independence, anyway, where he earned a medical degree abolished yet – that would come via the particularly because on that day the flames of revolution were in 1824 at the tender age of 23. By that Thirteenth Amendment, ratified in 1865. furiously fanned, and it also happens to be a day of primary point, another revolution well underway – Howe was also instrumental in helping importance in the Greek Orthodox faith – the Annunciation of the the Greek War of Independence – struck a escaped slaves reunite with other family passion within the young Howe. members who had also escaped. Virgin Mary (i.e., when the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she was going to give birth to the Son of God). THE GREEKS’ LAFAYETTE A CALL FOR TAXATION But sparks that ignited the revolution started long before that, Inspired by the English Lord George Gor - The federal income tax in the United and so 1821 in some respects is not even the historically accurate don Byron, who also joined the cause and States was not officially established until year of origin – and in fact, Greece’s new government was not died of illness in Messolonghi at the height the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified in officially established until 1832, under the auspices of the Great of battle, Howe sailed for Greece and joined 1913, 37 years after Howe’s death. Until Powers via the Treaty of . the Greek Army as a surgeon. that point, the government ran on tariffs Soon thereafter, Howe did not limit his and special taxes collected during wartime. And even then, Greece was still subject to a , one that contributions to the operating table, and But in 1865, immediately following the did not officially end until 1974. his military acumen, coupled with his brav - Civil War, Howe called for a progressive tax Generally, so much of the glory of history is lost on adherence ery, landed him an important role on the system in America (what is in place now), battlefield, and earned him the nickname understanding that the wealthy would be to exact statistics, such as dates, which centuries ago could not be “Lafayette of the Greek Revolution” – a com - opposed to it, but citing it as necessary for confirmed as easily as they are today. Not to mention, such parison to Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de reconstruction of the nation. obsession with memorization of facts and figures – an Lafayette, a Frenchman who fought nobly Howe’s humanitarian efforts also ex - excruciatingly dull and ultimately futile exercise – is what has led and valiantly in the American Revolutionary tended to helping individuals afflicted with War, and had a close bond with Howe’s hero blindness and mental challenges. many a primary and secondary school student to develop an Jefferson, as well as with George Washing - intense aversion to history, rather than an appreciation for it. ton and Alexander Hamilton. ERA OF GOOD FEELING Accordingly, we hope that in this edition, even as the dates, Samuel Gridley Howe, an American-born After helping the Greeks achieve their facts, and figures in question are the best historically available, and educated doctor who in the operat - independence, Howe returned to the United The “Era of Good Feeling” was a decade ing room and on the battlefield, helped States but did not abandon Greek interests. in American history between 1815 and the attention will be on the essence of the pieces: how a proud the Greeks gain their independence. He helped to raise $60,000 in 1827 – an 1825, which coincided with the presidency nation of people rose up from the bonds of slavery and proclaimed extraordinary amount of money at the time, of James Monroe – the only president to be their independence, and how they have struggled, but endured, the equivalent of $1.5 million today – in (re)elected unopposed, other than Wash - order to help alleviate postwar famine and before, during, and since the Greek War of Independence. suffering in Greece. Continued on page 6 THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016 Greek Independence Day 3

Happy and Joyous

JOHN CATSIMATIDIS, Jr. Independence Day 4 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016 Greek Independence Celebrations in London: 1861 and 1898

By Stavros T. Stavridis ens was its founding editor and Palmerston was an experienced merged it in 1912 with the politician who served as Secre - n March 25 Greeks Morning Leader and for a short tary of War 1809-1828, Foreign celebrate their na - period of time it became known Secretary 1830-34, 1835-41 and tional holiday after as the Daily News and Leader. 1846-51, Home Secretary 1852- Owaging a fierce strug - Originally the News was 55 and Prime Minister 1855-58 gle for liberation from Ottoman launched to compete with the and 1859-1865 in a long distin - rule. Chronicle. guished career in British politics. Celebrated novelist Two British newspapers – The former celebration was On February 16, 1830 Lord Charles Dickens The Morning Chronicle and staged at the London Tavern Palmerston remarked “I venture Daily News – published two ar - with some 120 guests including to predict that, if is not in - was affiliated ticles titled “Anniversary of representatives from the leading cluded in the kingdom of with both the Morning Greek Independence” and Greek firms in London. Other at - Greece, we shall run the risk of Chronicle and the Daily “Greek Independence. Phil-Hel - tendees included Colonel war on account of that island lenic Dinner. Message from Mr. Tzames Karatassos, Rev. Archi - before many years are past.” A News, two British Gladstone” on April 8, 1861 and mandrite Morphinos of the number of rebellions occurred newspapers that wrote March 30, 1898, respectively, Greek Church, Spyridon Tri - in 1841, 1858, 1866, 1878, 1889 and 1897 where the Cre - about the Greek tan population demanded Independence with Greece. The Greek celebrants appre - celebrations in Britain ciated the support of the three in 1861 and 1898. protecting powers (Britain, The 1862 and ) that played celebrants an important role in helping Greece attain its independence. toasted to the He mentioned how the Italians good health of attained their freedom and in - Otto, the first dependence and hoped that his fellow Greeks would emulate King of the them. Most of was under who played their part in destroy - Shaw Lefevre, and others made Irish under Turkish and British Hellenes. Austrian rule and with papal au - ing an Ottoman-Egyptian naval speeches regarding Greek inde - authority. thority centered on Rome. It was fleet at Navarino. There was also pendence. Lefevre, a former London Giuseppe Mazzini, Giuseppe praise of , Lord Monk proposed a toast where County Councillor, Haggerston Garibaldi, and Camilo Byron, Frank Hastings and Com - he desired success for the Greek Division in 1897, stated that if Cavour, who played an impor - modore Gawen Hamilton for cause and was disappointed that Gladstone had been in the tant role in the unification of the their contribution to Greece’s lib - he “had not met to celebrate the House of Commons over the Italian states by 1861. In fact, erty and also proposed a toast autonomy and independence of past two years, it is possible that Cavour concluded a secret pact to the “Greek commercial inter - Crete.” He hoped to celebrate the Cretan issue may have taken with France by provoking war est.” Cretan union with Greece next a different direction. W.E Glad - with Austria. France assisted the The second celebration of year and did not place much stone’s action could have in - Italians in their unification of the March 30, 1898 took place some faith in the European Concert. spired to have taken a northern states (Lombardy, Tus - 12 months after the Greco-Turk - However, he expressed his sat - greater interest in “Cretan op - cany, Parma, Modena and ish war of 1897. This function isfaction that Britain had not pression.” He could have alluded joining Piedmont) and Garibaldi took place at the Westminster withdrawn from the Concert and to Gladstone’s strong anti-Turk - captured the Kingdom of Two Palace Hotel with Lord Robert that the European powers would ish position regarding the Bul - Sicilies and in 1860. Loyd-Lindsay Wantage as chair - appoint Prince George of Greece garian horrors in 1876 and Ar - It is interesting to note that man of the evening proceedings. as Governor of Crete. Prince menian massacres in 1894-96 those comments may have re - Lord Wantage was one of the George became High Commis - under Sultan Abdul Hamid 11. ferred indirectly to Greeks living founders of the British Red Cross sioner in December 1898. It must be noted that the vener - outside the Hellenic Kingdom and presided over meetings of F.S. Stevenson believed in the able Gladstone was diagnosed under Ottoman rule in the the Greek Relief Committee “great future of Phil-Hellenism with cancer in early 1898 and and Asia Minor. He pos - dealing with Thessalian and Cre - [and] urged… co-operation with all the attendees prayed for his sibly envisaged the European tan . He was pleased of other nations, among there were good health. He died at his powers rendering their moral the “recent escape of the King many Phil-Hellenes.” He pointed home in May 1898. capturing the celebrations of coupis, the Greek Minister in support to Greece like they af - [George of Greece] from the out that “Russia had its Pushkin, Both articles capture the Greek national day in Great London, and Greek residents forded to Italy when the time hands of the assassin.” It was and France its ” and mood of Greek national day cel - Britain. domiciled in England. came for the unredeemed also stated that Britain had “expressed a hope that they ebrations with the various The Chronicle supported the The attendees saluted to the Greeks to seek union with the ceded the to might see in the future a greater speakers highlighting particular Whig Party in Parliament and health of , King mother country. The territorial Greece without seeking any Greece that would transcend the events that contributed to Greek ceased publication in 1862. Otto, and Queen Amalia. A rev - expansion of the Hellenic King - compensation whatsoever. greater classics of antiquity.” independence. The second piece Charles Dickens wrote short sto - olution in October, 1862 re - dom was based on the megali William E. Gladstone, ex- On the other hand, Dillon, an is completely dominated by ries for it in 1834. British Whigs sulted in Otto leaving Greece af - idea. British Prime Minister 1868-74, Irish nationalist, was critical of British Phihellenes who are very belonged to a political party of ter nearly 30 years on the Other references described 1880-85, 1886 and 1892-94, the European powers for not sympathetic to the Greek cause the 18th and early 19th cen - throne. the celebration as the "festival John Morley MP, Herbert Glad - supporting Greece in its recent and mindful of the plight of turies that sought to restrict References were made to of festivals.” The Greeks through stone , the youngest of son W.E. war with the Ottoman Empire. Thessalian and Cretan refugees. royal authority and increase par - Lord Henry John Temple their own efforts on land and Gladsone, and Sir Charles Dilke He was an ardent Philhellene liamentary power. Palmerston’s speech where the sea, and with great determina - had all sent congratulatory let - and supported Irish Home Rule. Stavros T. Stavridis is a On the other hand, the Daily latter had no qualms with Crete tion defeated the Turks. Mention ters that were read out at this It might be argued that Dillon historical author, history pro - News gave expression to the Lib - uniting with the newly estab - was made of the Holy gathering. British politicians C.J. could have seen similarities in fessor, and historical consul - eral point of view. Charles Dick - lished Hellenic Kingdom. (Britain, France, and Russia) Monk, John Dillon, George the plight of both Greeks and tant. After the Revolution – Independent, Not Quite Democratic

TNH Staff manded a , though dros Schinas, was thought to be In 1920, he died in a freak acci - grandfather, King George I, had there was constant uproar alleg - a deranged alcoholic “lone gun - dent, from complications after decided Allied sympathies, and There are many “beginnings” ing that he manipulated election man.” He got to King George be - being bitten by a monkey, which because of Metaxas’ famous to the Greek War of Independence results through fraud. cause the monarch often en - he was trying to save from his “OXI!” to ’s fas - against the Ottoman Empire, the Otto was able to hold power, joyed taking walks by himself, own dog’s clutches. cist Italy, Greece suffered an at - most prevalent being March 25, despite incessant interference without bodyguards. Constantine returned to the tack from , and 1821. But just as there are many from the Great Powers, by ap - George went into exile again in beginnings to independence – an - peasing them and playing their CONSTANTINE I (1913- 1941. other being the formal issuance conflicting foes against one an - 1917; 1920-1922): Constan - George returned again in of the Greek Declaration of Inde - other. But when Britain pre - tine ascended to the throne fol - 1944, as the tide of World War pendence in January 1822 – vented Greece from intervening lowing his father’s King George, II was turning, and died at the there is the important notion that against the Ottoman Empire in assassination. But the transfer Palace on April 1, 1947, the while Greece gained its freedom 1950 in the , of power was not unexpected, news of which some thought to from Ottoman oppression, it did Greece’s populous steadily as King George had planned to have been an April Fool’s joke. not relieve itself of subjection to turned against King Otto, lead - step down anyway after 50 PAUL I (1947-1964): With a monarchy. ing to his deposing in 1862. He years of rule, and turn over the the exception of King George I, There were, in fact, seven died in exile, in , in throne to his son. Constantine’s King Paul, who was also George kings of Greece between 1832 1867. reign is identified by Greece’s I’s grandson and the younger and 1974, the year in which the , which pitted brother of Kings George II and effectively KING GEORGE I (1863- the pro-German Royalists Alexander, enjoyed the most sta - ended. They were: 1913): After King Otto’s depos - KING GEORGE I (1863-1913) against the pro-Allies ble reign of all the Greek mon - ing the year before, the Great Venizelists, whose leader, Eleft - archs. Assuming the throne OTTO 1 (1832-1862): Born Powers and the Greek Parlia - century included the peaceful herios Venizelos, supported upon his older brother George’s a Bavarian prince in Austria in ment were strongly in favor of ceding to Greece of the Ionian Greece’s entry into death, Paul who was also born 1815, Otto ascended to the George, a Danish-born prince Islands from Britain, and Thes - on the Allies’ behalf, while Con - in Athens, took over the throne Greek throne in 1832 as a result (1845) becoming the next king saly from the Ottomans. stantine preferred for the coun - at a good time for stability – as of the Convention of London, of the Hellenes. George took Although King George was try to remain neutral. the communist forces were de - established by the Great Powers power in 1863 and his reign assassinated, it does not appear Though Constantine won his feated in the (Britain, France, and Russia). lasted 50 years. The longest that his fatal shooting, in Thes - early war of words with Venize - ALEXANDER I (1917-1920) and the nation looked to end He ruled as an absolute reign in the history of the Greek saloniki in 1913, was politically los, the latter, along with the Al - political conflict and rebuild monarch until the people de - monarchy, King George’s half motivated. The killer, Alexan - lies, managed to portray him as throne as Venizelos’ popularity economically. During the 1950s, surprisingly dwindled, but un - Greece experienced growth and successful fairings versus had stability, but by the early resulted in his support plum - 1960s public fervor emerged for meting yet again, and he abdi - a republic, with the monarchy cated the throne in 1922. He in general – not necessarily Paul GALVANO & XANTHAKIS, P.C. died four months later in Italy in particular – falling out of fa - in 1923, in exile. vor. 150 Broadway, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10038-4489 • Tel.: (212) 349-5150 Amid resentment for the ALEXANDER I (1917-1920) monarch interfering in politics, See Constantine I (above). King Paul died in 1964 in Athens, from complications of GEORGE II (1922-1924; stomach cancer. 1935-1941; 1944-1947) King George II, born at the CONSTANTINE II (1964- Tatoi Palace in 1890, the first- 1967) : Born in Athens in 1940, born son of King Constantine I King Paul’s 24-year-old son rose and older brother of King to the throne in 1964, following Alexander. He did not succeed his father’s death, becoming the his father originally, because he youngest ever person to ascend followed him into exile in 1917. to the Greek throne, by one Upon ascending to the throne month over his uncle, King Long Live the Heroes in 1922, King George’s reign Alexander. CONSTANTINE I (1913-1917; 1920-1922) was tumultuous and twice in - Young Constantine’s reign and the Memory terrupted. Shortly after George was short and erratic, with anti- a German sympathizer rather became king, the Greek Parlia - monarchy fervor still festering, of March 25th 1821 than a neutralist which, coupled ment questioned the future of a group of rightwing colonels with the Allies’ threat to use the monarchy, and asked him to managed a coup in 1967, and force against Athens, caused step down. Upon his refusal, the ruling Junta forced Constan - Constantine to abdicate the Parliament formally disposed tine into exile that year. He re - throne in 1917 in favor of his him in 1924. mained head of state until 1973, LONG LIVE HELLAS son, Alexander. rose to when dictator Georgios Pa - Born in 1893 at the Tatoi power in 1935 and brought padopoulos ended the monar - GOD BLESS AMERICA Palace in Athens, Alexander rose George back to Greece. In the chy. After the Junta was over - to the throne just as the years that followed, with George thrown in 1974, Constantine Venizelist forces were rapidly as king and Metaxas as ruling Karamanlis called for a referen - gaining power. With no real po - dictator, Greece experienced dum, in which the Greek people litical experience and with his several years of intense overwhelmingly voted against ANTHONY XANTHAKIS father in exile, Alexander was rightwing authoritarian gover - the restoration of the monarchy, stripped of his powers and lived nance. and the era of Greek kings had in semi-exile on Palace grounds. Because George II, unlike his come to an end. THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016 Greek Independence Day 5

The Order of AHEPA Salutes the Heroes of 1821

Supreme President John W. Galanis and the entire AHEPA Leadership join you in celebrating 195 years of freedom!

94 Years of Service to the Community Often imitated; Never duplicated The Order of AHEPA Since 1922

Join AHEPA today by visiting our web site at AHEPA.ORG 6 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016 The Greek Declaration of Independence

Although Greek Independence Day is usually associated with March of a faction or the result of sedition. It is not aimed at the advantage Building upon the foundation of our natural rights, and desiring 25, 1821, it was on January 27, 1822, that the Greek Declaration of of any single part of the Greek people; it is a national war, a holy to assimilate ourselves to the rest of the Christians of Europe, our Independence was formally issued in by the Greek National war, a war the object of which is to reconquer the rights of individ - brethren, we have begun a war against the Turks, or rather, uniting Assembly, declaring Greece a free and independent state. ual liberty, of property and honor, – rights which the civilized all our isolated strength, we have formed ourselves into a single The War of Independence lasted until May 1823. people of Europe, our neighbors, enjoy to-day; rights of which the armed body, firmly resolved to attain our end, to govern ourselves cruel and unheard-of tyranny of the Ottomans would deprive us- by wise , or to be altogether annihilated, believing it to be un - us alone – and the very memory of which they would stifle in our worthy of us, as descendants of the glorious peoples of Hellas, to THE GREEK DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (1822) hearts. live henceforth in a state of slavery fitted rather for unreasoning Are we, then, less reasonable than other peoples, that we remain ani mals than for rational beings. We, descendants of the wise and noble peoples of Hellas, we deprived of these rights? Are we of a nature so degraded and Ten months have elapsed since we began this national war; the who are the contemporaries of the enlightened and civil ized nations abject that we should be viewed as unworthy to enjoy them, con - all-powerful God has succored us; although we were not adequately of Europe, we who behold the advantages which they enjoy under demned to remain crushed under a per petual slavery and subjected, prepared for so great an enterprise, our arms have everywhere the protection of the impenetrable aegis of the , find it no like beasts of burden or mere automatons, to the absurd caprice of been victorious, despite the power ful obstacles which we have en - longer possible to suffer without cowardice and self-contempt the a cruel tyrant who, like an infamous brigand, has come from distant countered and still encounter everywhere. We have had to contend cruel yoke of the Ottoman power which has weighed upon us for regions to invade our borders? Nature has deeply graven these with a situation bristling with difficulties, and we are still engaged more than four centuries,- a power which does not listen to rights in the hearts of all men; laws in harmony with nature have in our efforts to overcome them. It should not, therefore, appear and knows no other law than its own will, which orders and dis - so completely consecrated them that neither three nor four cen - astonishing that we were not able from the very first to proclaim poses everything despotically and according to its caprice. After turies – nor thousands nor millions of centuries – can destroy them. our independence and take rank among the civilized peoples of this prolonged slavery we have determined to take arms to avenge Force and violence have been able to restrict and paralyze them the earth, marching forward side by side with them. It was impos - ourselves and our country against a frightful tyranny, iniquitous in for a season, but force may once more resuscitate them in all the sible to occupy ourselves with our political existence before we its very essence, – an unexampled despotism to which no other vigor which they formerly enjoyed during many centuries; nor had established our independence. We trust these may rule can be compared. have we ever ceased in Hellas to defend these rights by arms when - justify, in the eyes of the nations, our delay, as well as console us The war which we are carrying on against the Turk is not that ever opportunity offered. for the anarchy in which we have found ourselves.

Samuel Gridley Remembering March 25,1821 Howe portrayed as an Evzone in a painting When it All Began by his son-in- law John Elliot. By Harry Mark Petrakis sios Diakos, before his execu - As a boy I recited those po - From the rugged, mountain - tion, “How strange that death ems and danced the dances, but ous Mani came Petrobey For Greeks in Greece and should come for me now, when without any real grasp of the Mavromichalis and his great those in the Diaspora in coun - all the earth is bursting into history the event represented. warrior clan. There was tries across the world, March flower.” When I grew older and read the , great - 25th is a day nearly as reveren - The audience caught up in biographies and journals of that est of the Greek leaders who tial as the holidays of Christmas patriotic fervor, many crying, period, I began to understand while in exile on the island of and Easter. In 1821 in Greece, would join in reciting the lines. the crucible of suffering of that Zante would take his sons to the that date marked the beginning peak of the mountain and point of the War of Independence, a to the mountains of the Pelo - struggle that lasted ten years ponnesus and tell them they and which, finally in 1832, were ordained by God to bring gained much of Greece its free - freedom to their land. From the dom from the Ottoman Empire Western mainland came the il - after almost 400 years of literate Yannis Makriyannis, bondage. who after the revolution would In my father’s parish in the teach himself to read and write 1930s, on the South Side of so he could record his experi - Chicago, preparations to com - ences. memorate that event began These were rough, passion - months ahead in our parochial ate men, quick to take offense school. Under the tutelage of and quick to anger. Their per - stern teachers, through weary - sonal ambitions sometimes ing daily rehearsals, we memo - clashed with their country’s rized the heroic poems and struggle. What was never re - practiced the ethnic dances. lated in those years when we re - Meanwhile, our mothers refur - cited the heroic poems was that bished the ethnic costumes, during the period of the revolu - white pleated skirts and tasseled tion, the Greeks fought two sav - slippers for the boys, long age civil wars to determine beaded and colorful dresses for which leaders would hold the girls. power. On March 25, as the school In 1825, the Sultan’s ally, the auditorium filled with parents dreaded Ibrahim invaded and friends, we performers Greece with an army of - gathered backstage, nervous ian . Setting a Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe: and trembling, trying to retain precedent for the scorched-earth the opening lines of poems that policy Gen. William Tecumseh threatened like frightened birds Sherman would carry out An Unsung Hero of 1821 to flee from our minds. Finally, decades later in the American prompted by the hissed warn - Civil War in his march through ings of our teachers, we lurched the South, Ibrahim Pasha’s army Continued from page 2 Americans enjoyed, and a sense into the glare of the footlights burned and ravaged the land. of duty to help their fellow hu - and cried out the martial po - , GRATEFUL HELLAS, NATIONAL GALLERY None of the Greek leaders and ington – and is greatly attrib - man beings achieve it in other ems. their forces could stand against uted to Monroe’s visit to Boston parts of the world, as Howe did There was the great war At the time I was bewildered at enslavement. Four hundred him. When it appeared that the in 1817 to meet with fellow De - first in Greece and later in by the patriot the emotion many older Greeks years were not simply three revolution would be lost, a sea mocratic-Republicans. France, before returning to help Rigas Feraios, burned to death displayed, such as a family words in a poem, but a burning battle changed the course of the Among those prominent in spread that liberty to American for treason by the Ottomans in friend, Barba Nikos, gnarled and testament to generation after war. perpetuating that sentiment was slaves. 1798. “Better one hour of free - ancient, who with tears stream - generation who lived and died At the Bay of Navarino, in Howe, and his contributions Accordingly no list of the He - dom than 100 years of ing down his cheeks when in bondage. Children born October 1827, a Turkish-Egypt - added further meaning to what roes of 1821 would be complete bondage!" speaking of those centuries of slaves, growing into maturity as ian fleet of eighty ships lay the “good feeling” was all about without the name of Samuel Another poem expressed the bondage told me, “The moun - slaves, and dying as slaves… so moored beside a combined Eng - – it was gratitude for liberty that Gridley Howe. lament of the warrior Athana - tains wept, my son.” endless a period of captivity that lish, French, and Russian fleet. the memory of a nation once These countries were sworn to free seemed to recede further remain neutral in the struggle, and further into the past along but a muddled exchange of or - with the hallowed names of ders from the English Admiralty Marathon and . to the English Admiral Edward This was a dreadful fate for Codrington set off an exchange a small country that had sprung of cannon fire which, by the end The National Herald into existence centuries earlier of the battle, saw the Turkish- like a flower in the desert. The Egyptian fleet totally destroyed salutes the Greek-American community classical scholar Edith Hamilton by the larger guns of the Allied wrote of Greece: Fleet. “Five hundred years before While warfare on land con - and Greek Independence Day Christ in a little town on the far tinued for several more years, Western border of the settled the loss of its fleet prevented and civilized world, a strange any Turkish victory. In 1830, the Join the Greek Independence Day Parade, April 10, 2016 – 5th Avenue, New York City! new power was at work… great powers imposed a peace Athens had entered upon her settlement on the adversaries brief and magnificent flowering that liberated sections of Greece of genius which so molded the while leaving sections still en - world of mind and of spirit that slaved. My parent’s island of our mind and spirit today are Crete, which had struggled val - different…What was then pro - orously during the revolution, duced of art and of thought has was excluded from the new never been surpassed and very Greece, a decision that doomed rarely equaled, and the stamp the Cretans to another 85 years of it is upon all the art and all of bondage before joining the thought of the Western Greece in 1915. world.” The Greek Nobel prize poet Recognizing the legacy of Giorgos Seferis wrote that wher - this civilization, other countries ever one travels in Greece, denounced the Greek enslave - mainland or islands, one senses ment. In England at the begin - something of the soul of a land ning of the 19th Century, the where even the stones seem to poet , lover of the speak. Through the bloodied Greek spirit who would join the centuries of its history, the Greek Greeks and give his life fighting people have survived wars, mas - in their cause at , sacres, famines, the invasions of wrote lines that moved others Persians, Romans, Venetians, to an understanding of the Turks, Fascists, Nazis, military plight of Greece. dictators…all have passed but The mountains look on the land and the people remain. Marathon. Into the present, as Greece And Marathon looks on the sea now struggles against an enemy And musing there an hour more insidious than any of the alone, invaders it has repelled in the I dreamed that Greece might past, I recall those March 25th still be free. events of my childhood, the fer - For standing on the Persian’s vor, tears and joys of those cel - grave ebrations of Greek freedom after T H D E L N A I could not deem myself a slave. centuries of enslavement. And AT ER IONAL H The years of the revolt were with all my heart I hope once marked by fierce battles, brutal - again that the durable people h ities, and massacres by both the who inhabit that small, lovely Greek and Ottoman sides. The and long suffering land find the 10 0 forces of Turkey and Egypt were will and means to liberate them - επέτ ειος led by seasoned generals, while selves from the tyranny of this on the Greek side, a disparate new bondage. 1 9 1 5 - 2 0 1 5 assemblage of farmers and mer - chants rose to lead forces of the The novels and stories of Harry revolt, leaders with names as Mark Petrakis are available in long and obtuse as those in any both print and e-book editions. Russian novel. Visit harrymarkpetrakis.com THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016 Greek Independence Day 7 How Greece Gained and Lost Territory in the Century Following its Gaining Independence

Greek state after the Balkan Greece. Turkey was forced to Armenian populations. Wars almost doubled its size. transfer to Greece the exercise The war ended with the During the (1912- of her rights of sovereignty over Treaty of . River 13) Greece was allied with Bul - and a considerable Hin - was now the border between garia, , and terland. Within five years’ time the two countries, leaving East against the Ottoman Empire. they could be incorporated into Thrace and Asia Minor to During the , the Kingdom of Greece. Turkey. and Greece occupied much of Mace - The Aegean islands, which would be part of Turkey under donia, including the strategi - Greece possessed since the First a special autonomous adminis - cally important port of Thessa - Balkan War, were officially in - trative status to accommodate loniki. The Greek Army corporated into the Greek state, the Greeks, who were addition - advanced a few hours ahead of but the treaty was never ratified ally excluded from the wide the Bulgarian Army and Tahshin by the parties. Therefore, the population exchange between , seen here, along with the other Islands, were finally united with Greece in Pasa, ruler of the city, surren - Greek Asian Minor campaign Greece and Turkey. A total of 1947, despite Turkey’s objections. dered to Greece. It was decisive was launched. The Greek army 1,300,000 Greeks from the event for the future of Thessa - took control of the Asia Minor Turkish territory moved to loniki, as both and and advanced inland. The Greek Greece, whose total population Greece wanted to include this front was defeated in 1921 at at the time did not exceed the By Dr. Dimitra Kamarinou nized by the Treaty of Constan - (1881). harbor in their territory. the Battle of Sakarya and the 4,500,000. Italy maintained the tinople (1932), which set the In 1897, Greek irregulars Following the fall of the city Turkish army of Kemal Ataturk occupation of the Dodecanese Now that issues emerge boundaries at a line running crossed the border into the Ot - of , the Greeks ad - entered the city of Smyrna on islands until 1947, when they along the Greek borders and from to . toman territory, then, Macedo - vanced into Northern . September 1922, resulting in were finally united with Greece, Turkey seems to get an increas - In 1862, King Otto was nia and another Greco-Turkish The Greek Navy shouldered the the massacre of the Greek and despite objections from Turkey. ingly distinctive role in the com - forced to leave Greece and King war broke out. The Ottomans main naval efforts of the Balkan ing history, it is useful to remem - George I, a pro-British king, defeated the badly trained and allies and took possession of all ber which military and took the throne. As a reward, ill-equipped Greek Army. the Aegean islands, except for diplomatic events contributed to the ceded the Through the intervention of the the Italian-occupied Dode - the establishment of Greece’s Ionian Islands to Greece (Treaty Great Powers, Greece lost only canese. In May 1913, the Treaty current territorial status. of London, 1864). The practical a little territory along the border of London was signed and the Greece was established as a reasoning was that the islands to Turkey, but was forced to pay Ottoman Empire borders were fully independent, sovereign did not have great strategic im - heavy reparations, and the shifted to the Evros River. But state by the of portance and their maintenance Greek economy came under in - the chief point of friction, which February 3, 1830, via an agree - of ownership was too expensive. ternational supervision. was the partition of , ment between the three Great During the Russo-Turkish Crete, however, where since remained unsolved. Serbia and Powers (Russia, United King - War of 19877-78, revolts were decades regular revolts were Greece formed an alliance. dom, and France). Following staged in and Epirus staged, was finally established In June 1913, Bulgaria the assassination of Ioannis backed by the Greek Army. The as an autonomous state under launched a surprise attack Kapodistrias, Greek Foreign incorporation of most of Thes - Prince George of Greece as its against them. Following the en - Minister to Russia, in 1831, the saly and the Arta Prefecture to first . try of and of the Ot - Kingdom of Greece under King Greece was the result of the Well-prepared due to Eleft - toman Empire in the war, the Otto was internationally recog - Convention of herios Venizelos’ reforms, the Bulgarian position became hopeless. The war was con - cluded and the Treaty of (August 1913) con - firmed the Greek gains of Mace - Lord Byron and Greece donia, Epirus without , and Crete. In 1918, Greece officially en - tered the First World War on the By Eleni Sakellis for a cause that he adopted as travels in Greece and the side of the , the his own. His travels in Greece Balkans, inspired by the folk understanding linking Russia, There is no figure in history inspired him to write his most tales and beliefs in vampires France and United Kingdom, the Following the assassination as singularly fascinating as Lord famous poems. Here are a few from the region. Leila, a young powerful counterweight to the Byron. A profoundly intelligent works by and about Byron to woman from Hassan’s harem Alliance of Germany and Aus - of in man and a brilliant poet, he read in honor of his 228th birth - loves the Giaour. She is tossed tria-Hungary. The war ended 1931, the Kingdom of could have lived a life of luxury day. into the sea and drowned by her with the Treaty of Sèvres merely resting on the laurels of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage is master who is then killed by the (1920). Western and Eastern Greece became his great poetical works, but in - loosely based on Byron’s expe - Giaour, who then enters a Thrace and the islands of Imbros internationally recognized. stead he devoted himself and riences during his Grand - monastery to tell his tale. The and Tenedos were assigned to his fortune to the cause of Hel - pean Tour from 1809 to 1811. word “giaour” is a derogatory The narrative poem Turkish term meaning unbe - written in four can - liever. tos features the first On a Voiceless Shore: Byron appearance of the in Greece by Stephen Minta Byronic hero. Attrac - looks specifically at Byron’s trav - tive, charming, intel - els in Greece that so dramati - ligent, world-weary, cally influenced his work and adventure-seeking, his life. Byron was able to ap - moody, and with a preciate not only the Greece of healthy disdain for classical antiquity, but also the authority figures, enduring spirit of the people this hero is an out - and their yearning for a free, sider and an ideal - modern Greece. His attitude to - ized version of By - wards the people and his sup - ron himself. The port during the Greek War of In - poem was first pub - dependence changed the course lished in 1812 and of history and gave a deeper caused a sensation. meaning to his life. The book As Byron noted, “I includes a map of Byron’s trav - awoke one morning els for those who would like to and found myself fa - follow in the famous poet’s foot - mous.” steps on their next trip to Don Juan is con - Greece. sidered by most Byron’s contributions to scholars to be By - world literature were enough to ron’s masterpiece. cement his status in history, By - The narrative poem ron however, transformed him - follows the title self into a hero, sacrificing his lenic freedom. He was born on character through one adven - life for Greece and the cause of January 22, 1788 and ten years ture after another, romantic and freedom at the age of 36 in later inherited his title and lands otherwise, but mostly romantic. 1824. His death at Messolonghi from his uncle, the 5th Baron The third canto includes the sec - reverberated throughout the Byron. Numerous biographies tion entitled The Isles of Greece world and bolstered European are available describing the which highlights Byron’s views in the fight for “mad, bad, and dangerous to on Greece’s suffering under Ot - Greek Independence, ensuring know” Lord Byron, but for the toman oppression. Byron’s special place in the people of Greece, Byron will al - The Giaour is an extraordi - hearts of Greeks everywhere ways be a hero who gave his life nary work based on Byron’s and forever after. 8 Greek Independence Day THE NATIONAL HERALD, MARCH 26, 2016

Drs. Spiro & Amalia Spireas and Sigmapharm Laboratories

And we saw thee sad-eyed, Yet, behold now thy sons The tears on thy cheeks With impetuous breath While thy raiment was dyed Go forth to the fight In the blood of the Greeks. Seeking Freedom or Death.

From the graves of our slain Shall thy valour prevail As we greet thee again- Hail, Liberty! Hail!

(A translation in English by Rudyard Kipling in 1918)

Lyrics: , 1824 Music: , 1828 Adopted: 1864

Innovative Pharmaceutical Formulations, Maximizing Drug Therapy.

Sigmapharm Laboratories, LLC 3375 Progress Drive, Bensalem - PA 19020 Tel.: (215) 352-6655 - Fax: (215) 352-6644 www.sigmapharm.com