The American people join Hellenes today in commemorating
the 188th anniversary of Greece's independence. As we celebrate
the establishment of the Hellenic Republic, we honor the
historic contributions of Greeks and Greek-Americans.
Americans celebrated the cause of Greek independence
during the new nation's earliest years. In 1824, summarizing
support for the Greek struggle among the American people,
then-Representative Henry Clay declared, "That it is felt with
the deepest intensity, expressed in almost every possible form,
and that it increases with every new day and passing hour." His
words are echoed today as Americans celebrate the anniversary of
this struggle for independence. 

The relationship between Greece and the United States owes
much to the vision of democracy and liberty forged in Greece.
In constructing a modern democratic framework, our Nation's
founders drew upon the immutable principles of the ancient
Greeks. All who cherish the ideal of democratic governance
are beneficiaries of the Greek legacy.
From the literary classics taught in our children's
classrooms to the gleaming monuments of our Nation's capital,
Greek cultural traditions have also found a home in the
United States. In classrooms across the country, many of our
students still immerse themselves in the epics of Homer, the
dramas of Sophocles, and the philosophical innovations of Plato
and Aristotle. Among the Greek-influenced structures in
Washington, D.C., our Nation's Capitol Building draws upon the
architectural legacy of the ancient Greeks.
In recent history, Greece and the United States have
stood together to meet the challenges of our times. Greeks
and Americans fought for common causes over the course of the
20th century and continue to collaborate in this century,
including through membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization.

The strength of the bond between Greece and the
United States is exemplified by the Greek-American community,
which enriches our Nation with its cultural heritage and helps
maintain the living relationship between our countries.
On the anniversary of Greece's independence, we celebrate
this friendship and look forward to realizing our common goals
and aspirations. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby
proclaim March 25, 2009, as "Greek Independence Day: A National
Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy." I call
upon the people of the United States to observe this day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two hundred and thirty-third.