Washington, DC, November 11, 2015 — Today, on the occasion of Veterans Day, the Washington Oxi Day Foundation salutes all men and women in uniform who have served valiantly in order to protect freedom and democracy around the world.

As we do annually, on October 28, the 75th anniversary of Oxi Day, we proudly honored three distinguished World War II veterans — a Greek, an American and a Greek-American — with the Greatest Generation Awards at a moving ceremony. While the ceremony usually takes place at the National World War II Memorial, this year, due to inclement weather, it was held on Capitol Hill in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing room.

For photos and videos of these presentations, please click here.

The event began with an inspiring and passionate keynote address by Michael Psaros, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of KPS Capital Partners, LP.

To watch the video of this speech, please click here.

Michael Psaros

Former Senator, astronaut and American hero, John Glenn, received the Greatest Generation Award on behalf of American WWII veterans. As Senator Glenn was unable to attend the ceremony, NASA Administrator and fellow astronaut, Charles Bolden, accepted the Award on his behalf. Glenn was introduced by his long time friend, Bill Hunter. In his acceptance remarks, read by Administrator Bolden, Senator Glenn said:

“It behooves us all to remember the war that stopped Adolf Hitler’s nearly successful attempt at world domination and the extermination of millions of people. It is helpful, particularly during this time of Great Depression in Greece, that we remind the world of the great sacrifices the Greek people made, as they said ‘No,’ or ‘Oxi,’ to surender and became the first to defeat an Axis Forces invasion. They moved U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt to say, ‘When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German monster raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.'”

To see a video of this presentation, please click here.

Bill Hunter and Administrator Charles Bolden

Previous recipients of this Award have included: former nominee for President of the United States and Senate Majority Leader, Bob Dole; Former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ben Gilman; the longest-serving Member of Congress, John Dingell; and the oldest Member of Congress, Ralph Hall.

Panagiotis Sakellaris and Ambassador Tom Korologos with Senator Bob Dole

The Hon. Ben and Georgia Gilman

The Hon. John Dingell

Brett Hall, son of The Hon. Ralph Hall

James Moshovitis received the Greatest Generation Award on behalf of Greek-American WWII veterans, surrounded by a large delegation of family and friends.

To see a video of this presentation, please click here.

James Moshovitis

Previous recipients of this Award have included: Nicholas J. Bouras and Sam Bouras (2014); Lt. Col. Christopher Mehiel (2013); Brig. Gen. Mike P. Cokinos (2012); and Andrew A. Athens (2011).

Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation Trustees, The Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis and Bill Crane

Dennis and Celeste Mehiel

Archbishop Demetrios, Maria Pappas, Andy Manatos

Andrew A. Athens

The Greek WWII Veteran honored was General George Douratsos (posthumously). He was introduced by the Greek Embassy’s Defense Attaché Colonel Panagiotis Kavidopoulos. The General’s niece Themis Douratsou-Paleologou accepted the Award on his behalf.

To see a video of this presentation, please click here.

Col. Panagiotis Kavidopoulos with Themis Douratsou-Paleologou and Sophia Paleologou

Previous recipients of this Award have included: Admiral Ioannis Toumbas (2014); Lt. Gen. Konstantinos Korkas (2013); Antonios Kounalakis (2012); and Panagiotis Sakellaris (2011).

Konstantinos Korkas

Antonios Kounalakis

Panagiotis Sakellaris

Hall of Heroes

The Washington Oxi Day Foundation also honors our WWII Veterans in our “Hall of Heroes” – an online collection of stories of service as well as a poster gallery featured at our events.

To see our online Hall of Heroes, please click here.

Dennis Mehiel and The Hon. Nancy Pelosi

Wreath Laying

On October 29, the Foundation participated in a poignant wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The wreath was laid by the Ambassador of Greece to the United States Christos Panagopoulos, Washington Oxi Day Foundation Founder and President Andy Manatos, the Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States George Chacalli and the Greek Embassy’s Defense Attaché Colonel Panagiotis Kavidopoulos.

For photos from the wreath laying, please click here.

Ambassador George Chacalli, Col. Panagiotis Kavidopoulos, Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos, Andy Manatos

The Washington Oxi Day Foundation at Arlington National Cemetery