The Ahepan Fall 2017 - 8

AHEPA FAMILY NEWS

AHEPA Commemorates Marshall Plan Anniversary
great contributions of GreekAHEPA commemAmericans and AHEPA,
orated the 70th
in particular, to our strong
anniversary
of
bilateral relationship."
the Marshall Plan
in a June 5 statement issued by
Flashback: Dedication
then-Supreme
of Marshall Statue
President Andrew C.
At the October 12,
Zachariades:
2000 dedication of the
"This week, 70 years ago, Secretary of State George C.
Marshall Statue, then-SuMarshall called for a U.S. economic aid program to restore
preme President Johnny
the economic infrastructure of postwar Europe that would be
N. Economy said: "I find it
known as the Marshall Plan. Marshall's generous $706 million
interesting that we are honaid program to Greece helped bring economic and social
oring a warrior who could
recovery and prosperity after World War II and the Greek
have taken the route of 'to
Civil War.
the victor goes the spoils'
"In appreciation and in honor of a great American solider,
but who instead embraced
statesman, humanitarian, and Philhellene, AHEPA erected the
the Hellenic principles of philanthropy and philoxenia to help
George C. Marshall Statue on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy
the world recover from the terrible years of war. In dedicating
in Athens in October 2000. The statue is a fitting monument
the statue tonight, we should pause and understand that our
to the strength and endurance of the U.S.-Greece relationship.
commitment to the things George Marshall has done should
The American Hellenic community is grateful to George C.
not end here. Perhaps we should recommit ourselves to those
Marshall and to all those who helped to make his vision for
Hellenic principles of philanthropy and philoxenia in our
humanitarian aid for Europe, and especially Greece, a reality."
everyday lives."
In remarks delivered June 13 to
commemorate the anniversary, U.S.
"Now, that statue is a testament to the legacy and to the
Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt
great contributions of Greek-Americans and AHEPA, in
said, "Holding an event in front of the
particular, to our strong bilateral relationship."
road at rush hour would not be the way
--U.S. Ambassador Pyatt
we would usually organize things, but
I thought it was very important and
appropriate to do so today in front of the statue of Secretary
In his remarks, then-U.S. Ambassador to Greece R.
of State George Marshall. Back in the year 2000, my distinNicholas Burns commented that Marshall was the American
guished predeceswho did the most good for Greece and the Greek people in the
sor, Ambassador
twentieth century.
Nick Burns, and
"The powerful memory of our shared past, over 180 years
AHEPA worked
of history, unites us here this evening," Ambassador Burns
together to create
said. "As we look to that past there is no event more important,
a monument to
more compelling, and more decisive for both of our peoples
Marshall's legacy.
than the Marshall Plan and its lasting impact on Greece."
Now, that statue is
Through the AHEPA Centennial Foundation, Inc., the
a testament to the
AHEPA family raised $110,000 to complete the Marshall
Amb. Burns (left) with Supreme President
Economy (right) at joint press conference.
legacy and to the
Statue.

THE AHEPAN · Fall 2017

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