The History of the White House Greek Independence Day Celebration

Continuing a long tradition at the White House, President Donald Trump will be hosting a Greek Independence Day Celebration on March 18, 2019.

Hundreds of Greeks and Greek Americans will attend the event to honor the men and women who fought for Greece’s independence against the Ottomans as well as the bond between U.S. and Greece.

The celebration was first started by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 with the help of Father Alex Karloutsos, Tom Korologos and Andy Manatos and has become a White House tradition ever since.

A year later, in 1987, Reagan issued Proclamation 5623 on Greek Independence Day:

Those who framed our Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution whose bicentennial we celebrate this year, drew upon the political and philosophical experience of the ancient Greeks and their followers through the centuries. By joining in the independence celebration of the Greek people, we pay special tribute to the democratic values that we in the United States, together with our friends and allies such as Greece, are committed to defend.

For the last 32 years, Greek Independence Day has became a constant item on the White House official calendar. George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump have all hosted the event.

Watch our interview with Andy Manatos and Mike Manatos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU0TXA2tVzA