RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 15, 2018
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Greek Independence Day
Body
WHEREAS, the 25th of March marks Greek Independence Day, wherein the Greek community commends the bravery of its ancestors in their struggles and relentless determination in upholding Greek heritage, language and religion; and
WHEREAS, with the fall of Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire fell to Ottoman rule in 1453 and for 400 years its ancestors were forced to give up their customs, religion, language and most importantly, their proclaimed freedom; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag on March 25, 1821 and declared, "Eleftheria I Thanatos" ("Freedom or Death"), the very syllables that represent each bar within the Greek flag; and
WHEREAS, the flag of Greece has remained the same over the years, signifying Eleftheria and the importance of the Greek Orthodox Church in the formation of the Hellenic Nation; and
WHEREAS, on March 25th the Greek community celebrates a significant moment in the Christian Greek Orthodox religion; and
WHEREAS, Neo Kyma Messinias is an organization founded by Messinian immigrants who migrated to Chicago in the 1960’s with the focus of upholding Greek culture, customs and traditions and has successfully done so until today; and
WHEREAS, the organization will be celebrating Greek Independence Day and the 197th Anniversary of the independence of Kalamata, first city of Greece to be liberated, at their annual Dinner Dance which will be held on March 17, 2018 at the Chateau Ritz in Niles, Illinois; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, hereby recognize March 25, 2018, as Greek Independence Day and urge our fellow citizens to take note of, and participate in, the special activities arranged in observance of this event throughout the year; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: March 15, 2018
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:BTK:bh