Reps. Afendoulis, Tedder, Allor, Brinks, Chang, Cochran, Crawford, Elder, Faris, Gay-Dagnogo, Geiss, Greimel, Green, Greig, Greimel, Hoadley, Howrylak, Kelly, Lasinski, Marino, Maturen, Phelps, Sabo, Singh, Sneller, Webber, Wittenberg and Zemke offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 289.

            A resolution to declare March 25, 2018, as Greek Independence Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The concept of democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people, was developed by the ancient Greeks; and

            Whereas, The Founding Fathers of the United States were heavily influenced by the political and philosophical principles of ancient Greece; and

             Whereas, Our Greek American community enriches our economic and cultural development through its many contributions to science, technology, medicine, government, economics, architecture, and the arts; and

            Whereas, Michigan is home to nearly 50,000 residents of Greek descent; and

            Whereas, Greece and the United States have been allies through two World Wars, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the Cold War; and

            Whereas, Winston Churchill once said, “If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II would have been” and “no longer will we say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks”; and

            Whereas, March 25, 2018, marks the 197th anniversary of the uprising that led to the War of Greek Independence from the Ottoman Empire; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare March 25, 2018, as Greek Independence Day in the state of Michigan. We thank those of Greek heritage for the important contributions they have made to our state and our country.