The Washington Oxi Day Foundation, George Logothetis, the Executive Chairman of Libra Group and Libra Philanthropies, John P. Calamos, Sr., Chairman and Global Chief Investment Officer of Calamos Investments, and ambassador of Greece to the US Ekaterini Nassika honored Greek-American veterans and freedom fighters from all over the world during ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on October 30-31.
The Washington Oxi Day Foundation, created by Andy Manatos and Mike Manatos in 2011, honors and inspires courage in the world by presenting the OXI Courage Award to modern-day heroes of freedom and democracy who embody the “David vs. Goliath” historic courage exhibited by the Greek people during World War II.
OXI Service Awards
Three Greek-Americans were honored at the OXI Service Awards at the National WWII Memorial on the National Mall.
Four-star General Andrew Poppas received the 2024 Oxi Day Service Award for his current-day service from his friend George Logothetis. Poppas is one of the top military leaders in the United States and currently leads the U.S. Army’s largest command, overseeing over 700,000 soldiers and 13,000 civilians.
Logothetis stated, “It is rare to have a hero; it is rarer to have a hero whose humanity grows.”
Libra Group Executive Chairman also shared his deep admiration for General Poppas, recounting a moment when he asked the General why some survive while others do not.
“The General looked straight in the eyes and said it’s a matter of a few centimeters,” Logothetis shared, describing Poppas as “a servant to democracy and all we cherish.”
He further reflected on a visit to Fort Bragg, where he observed the respect and purpose Poppas instills in his soldiers.
“Every person I met, to a one, spoke with great pride and greater purpose,” he noted, adding that the young soldiers’ reactions to Poppas were filled with “love, pride, and purpose.”
Recalling Poppas’s leadership style, he described a memorable occasion where the General addressed a group of interns: “He spoke to them—not up or down to them. He learned from them as they learned from him,” embodying an empowering culture of mutual respect and growth.
20 years ago, as an immigrant from London coming to the U.S., Logothetis visited Arlington Cemetery. He then reflected on what his grandfather had done at the same age (29 and 2 months). His Grandfather was in World War II, fighting in the Battle of El Alamein, where the tank he was in blew up killing every man save his grandfather. Logothetis reflected “why them and not us.”
WWII Veteran Dennis Georges was honored posthumously with the Haseotes Service Award and his son John Georges received the award.
Decorated Vietnam Veteran John Calamos presented the Calamos Service Award to fellow Vietnam veteran George Hiotis. National WWII Museum President and CEO Stephen Watson gave the keynote speech.
Wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
On October 31, George Logothetis, joined General Andrew Poppas, Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the U.S. and John Calamos in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
In the presence of representatives from the Hellenic, Cypriot, and U.S. Armed Forces, they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This moving tribute was part of the Oxi Day commemoration, celebrating Greece’s historic “Oxi” (“No”) to a Nazi ultimatum in 1940.
Oxi Day Foundation Courage Awards
Later that day, the Washington Oxi Day Foundation hosted the Oxi Courage Awards Gala at the U.S. Institute of Peace, celebrating Oxi day (October 28). This inspiring event brought together senior U.S. policymakers, international leaders, prominent Washingtonians, and members of the Greek-American community, all moved by the “David vs. Goliath” bravery of the Greek people in WWII.
Recently released Russian political prisoner and 2018 OXI Courage Award laureate Vladimir Kara-Murza joined several other previous honorees in giving passionate tributes to OXI courage.
They included Iraqi human rights activist and survivor of ISIS atrocities Nadia Murad (2016) and Filipino journalist and activist Maria Ressa (2019), both subsequent Nobel Peace Prize recipients; the mother of executed American journalist James Foley (2014), Diane, and the daughter of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Machado (2024 Global Courage Award), Ana. Also in attendance was Chinese dissident Chen Guangchen (2012).
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan introduced keynote speaker Kara-Murza on the International Day of Political Prisoners. Those in the audience included senior US policymakers, international opinion leaders and prominent Greek-American leaders.
Other past OXI Courage Award laureates include Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, then-Vice President Joe Biden and Beau Biden and executed journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The first 2024 OXI Courage Award went to Shabana Basij-Rasikh, founder of SOLA, the School of Leadership Afghanistan, the only country in the world to prohibit access to education for girls over the age of 12 and women.
The second OXI Courage Award went to Russian political prisoners Alexei Gorinov and Maria Ponomarenko. Recently released Russian political prisoner Ilya Yashin accepted the award on their behalf, and political activist Evgenia Kara-Murza provided their introduction.
In addition, the Foundation’s Metropolitan Chrysostomos Award was presented to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, who was introduced by Congressman John Sarbanes. This award, presented each year to someone courageously fighting antisemitism and discrimination, has been received in the past by Nobel Laureate Eli Wiesel, Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Perez and Congressman John Lewis, among others.
Mike Manatos, Washington Oxi Day Foundation Executive Director said, “What started as a Foundation to revive the story of OXI Day, has evolved into a global champion for courage, all rooted in the courage of the Greeks.
“From the creation of democracy 2,500 years ago, to Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, to 1821, to October 28 – this unsurpassed courage lives on today in our OXI Courage Award laureates. And, someday soon, will live on in the next Nobel Peace Prize – but for courage: The OXI Courage Prize.”
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