Obama's message on Greece's Independence Day

U.S. President Barack Obama sent a message of support to the Greek people in his proclamation on the occasion of Greece's Independence Day, celebrated every year on March 25. Read below the full proclamation, titled "Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2014."

Greek Independence Day

Greek Independence Day is a national holiday celebrated annually in Greece on March 25 which commemorates the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821.

This important day coincides with the Greek Orthodox Church's celebration of the Annunciation to the Theotokos, when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would bear the son of God.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Since the dawn of our Nation, the United States and Greece have shared a bond forged through common struggle and deeply rooted in mutual beliefs. Greek principles guided our Founders as they declared America's independence, and nearly half a century later, as Greek revolutionaries fought to throw off the yoke of an empire, they renewed the creed that unites free people everywhere: ordinary citizens can govern themselves. Today, we celebrate the Hellenic spirit that has inspired our two great nations ? separated by an ocean but linked by a shared destiny written not for us, but by us.

It was the democratic example of ancient Greece from which the founding generation of Americans drew strength. In our Nation's earliest days, we sought wisdom from Greek history and philosophy, and we found hope within the pages of timeless Greek texts. Mindful of the lessons of the Hellenic story, courageous patriots undertook a bold experiment, securing the...