GREEK NATIONAL DAY

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 2

GREEK NATIONAL DAY

MARCH 25. (Contributed). The 25th of March, being the Na- ' tional Greek Day is celebrated by Greeks all over the world. It was on '> this date, 122 years ago, that a handful of Greeks successfully challenged a might empire, and gained freedom for a small portion of the Helleinc territory. 1 It was on this day that the l . Greek L - nation had once again fought success- - fully for freedom, against odds, sacri- ? ficing everything in the cause. Inspired by their national traditions t and love of freedom, and helped and ! encouraged by their national heroes, > poets and religious leaders, they : demonstrated their ability to survive 400 years of bondage and slavery, and to emerge again a small but free ’ and proud nation. It was prearranged that on this day, the 25th of March, all Greeks should , rise and fight for freedom. And when this call was sounded it was answered from one end of Greece to the other and all Greeks, as one man, offered their lives and their possessions to the cause. This undertaking was gigantic, and their fight was titanic. They fought as few nations have fought for" its freedom—their sacrifices ' were beyond description. Their courage and determination drew the enthusiastic admiration of the civilised world, which not only voiced opinions in favour of Greece, but before long offered tangible aid when men themselves came to fight on the side' of the Greeks. Thousands upon thousands, the volunteers (Phil-Hellenes) arrived on Greek soil to fight! side by side with the heroic Greeks—English. French, Italians, and Russians—all freedom loving people, who offered their services to the Greek nation. Amongst those Phil-Hellenes, first and foremost is remembered the name of Lord Byron. Young, educated, brave, and a poet, and writer, he arrived on Greek soil offering his whole fortune and himself to the then Greek Government. He. fought to the last, suffering and sharing miseries and privations, with the rest of the Greek forces and to his last hour the name of Greece was in his thoughts; his last words being: "Greece, I have given you my riches, my all, I gave you anything that a man could give, and now I am giv- ' ing you my life, hoping that helps you to your freedom.’’ In that . sentiment this Treat Phil-Hellene ; passed away, but to-dav after scores : of years, in the town of Messolonghi, ( free men, women and children, ( passing in silence with bowed heads by the handsome memorial of Lord Bvron, pay their respects to the man ( who gave all that their nation might regain liberty. Unfortunately in our own time, the freedom loving Greeks

have once again to ‘suffer’ defeat and subjection at the hands of the forces of the two Axis dictators, who in their turn have learnt their lesson that Greece knows how tp fight The present 25th of March finds Greece under the heel of their aggressive powers. Although their suffering are great beyond description, the Greeks feel that some day they will throw off the present yoke, They know that it is only temporary, and are looking forward to the. day when, with help of the Allied nations, Greece will rise to challenge the enemy for the freedom so much desired. Let us hope that the day is not far away. This anniversary •is therefore of special significance to the Greek nation, the' day every Greek loving soul throughout th e world pays tribute and homage to all the heroes of 1821 who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom the small but glorious Greek nation was enjoying, and will enjoy again.