Ellis Island, NJ – On an incredible sun-splashed Saturday, AHEPAns, Daughters, Sons, and Maids packed into Ellis Island from both Battery Park and Jersey City to participate in the AHEPA OXI Day celebration.
AHEPA took over the Grand Balcony overlooking the Great Hall. Close to 200 members commemorated OXI Day with a reception and special commemoration. Opening Remarks were made by NJ Governor Zenon Christodoulou, followed by NY District Governor Ted Stamas.
Along with Supreme Governor Tom Dushas, they spoke on the importance of the commemoration and the scope of the program which made it truly a regional celebration. PDG Asteris Fanikos provided a lecture on “The Greek Immigrant Experience: Our Odyssey to America”. Lou Katsos, NY’s Hellenism Director, also gave a presentation on “OXI Day: Before and After, and it’s relevance in the 21st Century” Providing remarks to the program were The Hon. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul general of Greece to NY, the newly appointed Consul of Greece, Vice Chair of AHEPA’s Board of Trustees Andy Zachariades.
AHEPA Supreme Treasurer George G. Horiates, on behalf of the Supreme President Carl Hollister, thanked both the Consul general and the Consul of Greece for their support and attendance. The film “The 11th Day” was also shown. After the presentations, special tours of Ellis Island, the museum and grounds were given throughout the day to the attendees.
Photos: Stelios Lambrou Photography