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3/22/2021 MEDIA ADVISORY: 200th anniversary of Greece’s independence celebration set for March 23 & 25 in Rhode Island
STATE HOUSE – The 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day will be celebrated this week on March 23 by the Rhode Island Senate at Rhode Island College and on March 25 by the RI House of Representatives at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.  There will also be flag raising ceremonies in the cities of Cranston, East Providence, Newport and Pawtucket attended by members of the General Assembly on Thursday.

The recognition of Greece's Independence and the participation of Rhode Island's Greek American communities is held under the sponsorship of Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) in cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Churches of Rhode Island.

The Senate’s event will begin with a presentation in the Sapinsley Hall, Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts on March 23rd at 4 p.m., which will include an invocation by Father Philip Zymaris of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Pawtucket and a reading of a resolution (2021-S 0694) introduced by Senator Raptakis. Maria Koukoutsi, Vice Consul General of Greece in Boston, will address the Senate.

On March 25 at 4 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the House of Representatives will hold their celebration, starting with an invocation to be given by Father Aaron Walker of the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, Newport and the introduction of a resolution introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston).

Due to COVID-19, no indoor State House events are planned this year and instead, Governor Daniel McKee will give greetings outside of the State House in front of the Smith Street entrance 5:15 p.m. on March 25.

Additional events on March 25, which will include flag raising ceremonies, will be as follows:
  • 9:30 a.m. - East Providence City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence
  • 12 p.m. – Pawtucket City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket
  • 12 p.m. - Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, Newport
  • 4 p.m. – Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Avenue, Cranston 
Greek Independence Day is celebrated annually on March 25, commemorating the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821.



For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124