BY PAUL FEENEY, PUBLISHER
It’s time for the Irish to step aside and make way for the Greeks. It’s the Greeks’ turn to march along the streets of Boston as they celebrate Greek Independence Day with their counterparts around the world. The actual Greek March to Freedom began on March 25, 1821.
Twenty-five years ago the New England Greek-American Community joined together and organized their own special parade in celebration of that independence, which they hold so dearly as a people just like we do here in America on the Fourth of July.
This year on Sunday, April 7th they will march down Boylston Street enroute to a post parade continuance of the celebration at the Boston Common for the 25th consecutive year.
This parade demonstrates the Unity in the Greek-American community in particular and also in the solidarity of the Greek Orthodox Church as parishes from throughout New England come to march in Boston.
And why Boston?
Well I believe it surely has something to do with Boston not just being the Hub of the Universe, Beantown USA but more importantly The Athens of America. Boston, just like Athens historically is at the forefront of education and medicine. After all, didn’t medicine begin in Greece?
There are other events to be held in conjunction with the celebration of Independence. The first is the gathering of the Greek community at the State House on Beacon Hill at 12 noon on Friday, March 29th.
Then, after the parade comes another event, the Gala at the Cathedral Hall located at 162 Goddard Avenue in Brookline which will begin at 6:30 p.m.
And guess who they chose to be this year’s parade Grand Marshal? Why none other than Mayor Walsh himself who will share this honor with His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston and the Honorable Consul General of Greece Stratos Efthimiou.
The Independence Day Parade is presented by the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England with the support of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events & Tourism in cooperation with the Greek Metropolitan of Boston and the Consulate General of Greece in Boston.
If you would like to contact the Federation their mailing address is
FHASNE, PO Box 2580, Woburn, MA 01888
Or you can call one of the three telephone numbers:
978-835-1455 —- 617-930-1518 —–508-728-5983
You can also check out their website at www.fhasne.com or e-mail them at fhasne@gmail.com
To learn more about Greek events you can check out Greek Boston at www.GreekBoston.com which was established in 1998.
Good luck to the Greek-American community as they celebrate Greek Independence Day with their 25th Annual Parade. This parade starts at 1 p.m. on Boylston Street and proceeds down Boylston to Charles Street where it will disband and everyone heads to the Boston Common for an afternoon of fun, entertainment and celebration of Greek culture.
The blue and white flag will be taking over from the green white and gold of Ireland for this much anticipated celebration of Greek pride. Also at this time, Boston City Paper sends out a salute to Eleni Vidalis who hosts the Greek Show on Boston Cable TV and has always been a huge booster for all things Greeks. And we remind our readers of the Greek Festivals held every year in Brookline, Roslindale, Westwood and other towns.
And nowhere is Greek history more celebrated than in Roslindale Square where there is a monument just steps away from St. Nectarios Church and Parish Hall.
