WASHINGTON, DC –  Bono, Former Secretary of State and likely Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Chairman of the Senate Foreign Realtions Committee Bob Menendez, Chairman of the House Middle East Subcommittee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; Senator and probable Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio; American Jewish Committee Executive Director David Harris; human rights leaders from Kenya and Cuba, John Githongo and Berta Soler; and other world leaders praised the Hellenic people during the Third Annual Washington Oxi Day Foundation Celebration October 24-25.

Over 200 senior U.S. officials, media executives (who reach hundreds of thousands), Ambassadors and high-level embassy officials representing 21 countries (and over one billion people) and other opinion leaders heard these leaders’ admiration for the Greek people. The Foundation’s social media outreach also made over half a million opinion leaders and others aware or the Hellenic people’s history-making courage following Oxi Day.

The generous Hellenes creating this Greek brand-improving program are listed to the right and at the end of this email.

Below are some of the words of praise for the Greek people delivered during the Third Annual Washington Oxi Day Celebration.

 

International musician and human rights activist Bono addressed the:

“…courage of the Greek people who stood up so valiantly for freedoms and democracy in the Second World War against the seemingly unstoppable Nazis. These are moments of human grit and defiance that we’re right to celebrate.”

 

Former Speaker of the House and current House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said:

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but this word, ‘Oxi’ is worth thousands of pictures, pictures of the Greek people who fought so hard…and cared about freedom so much they turned the tide of the war…the strength of Greece made victory possible.”

 

Likely 2016 Democratic Presidential candidate, and former Secretary of State, US Senator and First Lady Hillary Clinton paid tribute to:

“The Greek heroes who refused to bow before the fascist onslaught during World War II…the women of Crete who fought with pitchforks and shovels and the religious leaders in Athens who protected their Jewish neighbors and spoke out against the Nazi occupation. That generation of Greeks left a legacy as noble as their ancient ancestors. In the very place where democracy was born, they risked everything so that it might survive.”

Likely 2016 Republican Presidential candidate and US Senator, Marco Rubio, celebrated: 

“Greece’s bravery during World War II…and the Washington Oxi Day Foundation for continuing to fight for important principles…and honoring today’s heroes who fight for freedom and democracy.”

The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez, said that the courage displayed by 2013 Battle of Crete recipient Berta Soler was:

“…like the courage displayed by the women in the battle of Crete to promote democracy and political freedom has served as an extraordinary example to all of us and everyone around the world who longs to be free. She, like the first recipient of this award, Burmese democracy activist and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has lived a life dedicated to the fundamental principles of human rights and decency.”

 

The operational head of the most significant international arm of the “Jewish Lobby,” the American Jewish Committee‘s Executive Director David Harris, said:

“I cannot say, and I’m not sure how many of us could say that, were we in the shoes of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos in 1943, with the Nazis having occupied not just Greece, but most continental Europe, that I would have had remotely the courage that he and the mayor showed when the occupying Nazis demanded the list of the 275 Jews… and as they were presented a list of two names- the Bishop’s and the Mayor’s.” 

The Chairwoman of the House Middle East Subcommittee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, said:

“When the Prime Minister of Greece said ‘Oxi’ to the demand that Greece surrender, Greece stood virtually alone in the world against the seemingly unstoppable Axis Forces. Consequently, Greece was one of the first countries to defeat the Axis in World War II. Berta Soler exemplifies the meaning of the word ‘Oxi’ as she continues to tell the Cuban dictatorship, NO, !basta ya! She carries the same spirit of democracy and freedom that motivated the people of Greece to confront their evil Nazi occupiers.“

 

The head of Cuba’s Ladies in White who bravely protests Castro’s repressive policies, Berta Soler, said:

“We follow the example of the Greek women who showed extraordinary courage in the face of the Nazi invasion, truly like David confronted by Goliath…Inspired by the strength with which the people of Greece said ‘Oxi’ to the Nazi oppressor, we, the Ladies in White in Cuba continue saying ‘Oxi’ to our oppressor, ‘Oxi’ to injustice, ‘Oxi’ to violence, ‘Oxi’ to the dictatorship and ‘Oxi’ to totalitarianism.“

 

The internationally-renown Kenyan corruption fighting dissident, John Githongo, said his Oxi Day Award captures:

“…the fighting spirit and sense of honor of the Greek people…that served to shape the outcome of World War II and in turn shaped the post-war order in which we all live. I thank the Washington Oxi Day Foundation for reminding me and all of us, that when grappling with corruption the first step often ideally begins with saying one word – ‘Oxi!'”
The sponsors of 2013 Oxi Day Foundation activities, created and implemented by Manatos & Manatos, include:

Platinum Sponsors
Anonymous
Anonymous

Gold Sponsors
Jim Chanos and Kynikos Associates
Manatos & Manatos
Dennis & Karen Mehiel

Silver Sponsors
Libra Group
George Marcus

Bronze Sponsors
Admirals Bank, Nicholas W. Lazares
Maria Allwin
Axios Wine
Edward Marc Chocolatier
Georgetown Cupcake
Amb. Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis & Markos Kounalakis
James H. Moshovitis
Nikos Mouyiaris
Onassis Foundation (USA)
Chris & Maria Pappas
James & Wanda and Ted & Lea Pedas
Panayiotis & Magdaline Peters
Theodore & Erika Spyropoulos Foundation
Stephen G. & Thelma S. Yeonas

Supporters
AHEPA
American Hellenic Institute
Leon & Robyn Andris
Dottie Bennett
Nick & Kathleen Chimicles
Georgiou Enterprises
PSEKA