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O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans A WEEKLY GREEK AMERICAN PUBLICATION c v www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 11, ISSUE 546 March 29, 2008 $1.00 GREECE: 1.75 EURO Bush Joins in Celebrating Olympic Flame Begins Journey for Beijing Games Greek Independence at Ceremony in Ancient Olympia Disrupted by Annual White House Event Pro-Tibetan Protestors WASHINGTON, D.C. – “I’m always Daughters of Penelope Grand Presi- ATHENS (ANA) – The Olympic open to suggestions,” President dent Karen Stamatiades; Gene Ros- Flame departed on Monday, March Bush quipped during his open dis- sides, president & founder of the 24 from ancient Olympia for the cussion with Archbishop Demetrios American Hellenic Institute; Ted months-long torch relay to Beijing, of America at the White House, af- Spyropoulos, U.S. coordinator for host of the XXIX Olympic Games in ter the latter spoke about the the Council of Hellenes Abroad; 2008, following the now customary Cyprus issue and the name dispute Manny Velivasakis, president of the torch-lighting ceremony that was between Greece and FYROM, Hellenic American National Coun- attended by Greek leadership, In- drawing a favorable response from cil; Andy Athens, president of the ternational Olympic Committee the audience. United Hellenic American Con- (IOC) President Jacques Rogge and Nearly 125 Greek Americans gress; Ambassador Loucas Tsilas, IOC honorary president Juan Anto- from across the United States were executive director of the Onassis nio Samaranch as well as by a bevy invited to the White House to at- Public Benefit Foundation; Panicos of IOC members, in addition to tend the annual celebration of Papanicolaou, president of the Greek and Chinese officials and Greek Independence Day, which Cyprus Federation of America; athletes. was held this past Tuesday, March Washington attorney Plato The 'high priestess' for the 2008 25, at 2:30 PM. Cacheris; Greek American author ceremony was Greek actress Maria Guests included retired U.S. Nicholas Gage; and National Her- Nafpliotou, who led a ceremony Senator Paul Sarbanes of Mary- ald Publisher Antonis Diamataris. choreographed by Artemis Igna- land; Archbishop Demetrios of Deputy Secretary of State John tiou. The latter took over the task America; Andrew Natsios, U.S. En- Negroponte was out of the country. for the first time ever from Maria voy to Sudan; former U.S. Ambas- U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R- Hors, following the latter's depar- sador to Belgium Tom Korologos; Maine) and Congressmen Gus Bili- ture after 50 years of choreograph- Dr. John Brademas, the first Ameri- rakis (R-Florida), John Sarbanes ing the Olympic torch-lighting cer- can-born Greek elected to the U.S. (D-Maryland) and Zack Space (D- emonies. Congress (1959-81); AHEPA Ohio) did not attend because Con- Greek Prime Minister Costas Supreme President Ike Gulas; gress was in recess, and were re- Karamanlis addressed a brief mes- portedly busy in their respective sage, stressing the principles of no- districts. ble competition, "ekecheiria" (the The guest list was compiled Olympic Truce) and peaceful coex- WITH THIS ISSUE largely – though not exclusively – istence and understanding that the by the Greek American lobbying Games have stood for since their firm, Manatos & Manatos, together Greek actress Maria Nafpliotou, playing the role of a high priestess, passes on the Olympic flame to anoth- birth in antiquity. with Rev. Alexander Karloutsos, an er priestess, during a ceremony near the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia on Monday March 24, 2008. As ancient as the Games them- official of the Greek Orthodox selves, the concept of Olympic Archdiocese of America. Truce, "Ekecheiria" in Greek, dates The guest selection criteria for to the 11th century B.C., when all this event remain largely unknown, hostilities ceased to allow those at- although the process has come un- tending or participating in the der scrutiny. HABA Awards Tsakos Father and Son Games to travel to Olympia in safe- This tradition, which was estab- ty. lished during the late Archbishop By Mark Frangos day, the Tsakos Group of Compa- Mr. Tsakos has followed his fa- The first torch-bearer was Iakovos’ long tenure, represents the Special to The National Herald nies has operations around the ther into the shipping industry. Mr. Greece's Olympic silver medallist in U.S. Government’s public recogni- world, and includes the NYSE-list- Tsakos has been President, Chief Tae Kwon Do (2004 Athens Games) tion of the Greek American com- NEW YORK – The Hellenic Ameri- ed Tsakos Energy Navigation, Ltd., Executive Officer and a director of Alexandros Nikolaidis, who relayed munity’s contributions to its coun- can Bankers Association (HABA) headed by Captain Tsakos’ son Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) the torch to China's Luo Xuejuan, try of citizenship, and to American honored the father and son ship- Nikolas. Captain Tsakos has since its inception. TEN is now an an Olympic gold medallist in the society at-large. ping team of Captain Panagiotis N. demonstrated his commitment “To NYSE-listed public company, which 100m breastroke event. It has also stood as a sign of Tsakos and Nikolas P. Tsakos of the Save the Seas” by being a founding operates a fleet of 43 vessels, with A seven-day torch relay within Greek American influence in U.S. Tsakos Group of Companies with member of the Hellenic Marine En- over 4.7 million dwt, and an aver- Greece will follow until March 30, politics, as well as a gesture of its Executive of the Year Award at a vironment Protection Association age age of just 5.4 years. Reflecting when the Olympic torch arrives at friendship between Greece and the dinner on Thursday, March 20, (HELMEPA), which promotes the Tsakos family’s concern for the the Panathinaiko Stadium (Kalli- United States. 2008 at the New York Athletic Club. “Safer Ships in Cleaner Seas.” Cap- environment, 100% of TEN's fleet marmaro) in central Athens, the That’s why the President issued Captain Tsakos was born on the tain Tsakos is also an ardent sup- is of double hull design. Nikolas venue of the first modern version of island of Chios. He founded Tsakos porter of Hellenism and Orthodoxy Continued on page 3 Shipping and Trading in 1970. To- in the Americas, North and South. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 7 Crane Collapse in NYC Tears Independence Day Celebration Draws Local Leaders Down Home and Creates an By Stavros Marmarinos Special to The National Herald Uncertain Future for Family NEW YORK – “Zito I Ellada” [Long Live Greece], Queens Borough President Helen Marshall enthusi- By Stavros Marmarinos so upset and frightened that I could astically exclaimed in Greek, draw- Special to The National Herald not figure out if the trouble was ing cheers and ovation for the audi- coming from our building or from ence that had come to attend the NEW YORK – For one week now outside. Suddenly the telephone annual Greek Independence Day Eleni Papaioannou has been crying, rang. It was my nephew calling. I celebration she cosponsored to- taking sleeping pills, and suffering told him in tears that we suffered gether with New York State Assem- from claustrophobia. Two days ago an earthquake and that we lost blyman Michael Gianaris. she went inside a department store, everything. He told me to get out of During the event, which took and when she heard a construction the house. I did not even bother to place last Thursday March 20, at worker drilling with a jackhammer, change my clothes. I just grabbed a the Hellenic Cultural Center in As- she ran to the nearest exit to leave. coat and went out to the street,” toria, N.Y., several Greek Ameri- “I do not know if I can get over the Ms. Papaioannou said. cans were honored, including Bar- shock of my home being destroyed As she went down the stairs in a bara Neocleous, Account Manager be the crane,” she told The Nation- panic from her fifth floor apart- of the Visiting Nurse Service of New al Herald. ment, Ms. Papaioannou did not see York, Peter Vogiatzis, local entre- This major accident occurred on anyone because the other building preneur and owner of Brooklyn Saturday March 15, in the early af- residents had evacuated earlier. “I Bagels, Alexandra Rosa, Chief of ternoon, when a crane collapsed, did not leave right away because I Staff for Queens Borough President killing four construction workers did not realize exactly what had Marshall and her predecessor and injuring 17 others at a four-sto- happened. As soon as I exited, I saw Claire Schulman, and Leandros TNH/COSTAS BEJ ry townhouse in Manhattan. The a large crowd that had gathered, Vryonides, attorney at law. Basil S. Gregory Memorial Lecture accident occurred at 50th and 51st along with firefighters, police offi- Assemblyman Gianaris emceed Streets near Second Avenue on cers, and TV crews. It was mayhem. the event and highlighted the sig- The Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce held its Inaugural Rev. Basil S. Gregory Memorial Lecture, Manhattan's east side. The crane “Adamantios Korais, Thomas Jefferson and the Establishment of the Modern Greek State,” this past literally brought down the town Continued on page 2 Continued on page 4 Wednesday, March 26, 2008 in New York. Full story in next week's issue. house, and also caused extensive damage to an 18-story residential high-rise across the street from the construction site. Ten neighbor- hood residents were among those Starting the hurt, three of them critically, when Senator St. Panagiotakos: Beloved Son of Lowell a portion of the crane detached and "completely destroyed" the town- Printing Press By Theodore Kalmoukos and Westford.