Members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) have paid their respects on behalf of the Greek-American community to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, democracy and liberty at Arlington National Cemetery.
Nearly 100 AHEPA family members from the mid-Atlantic Region gathered on Sunday to memorialize those identified as Greek Americans or Greek Orthodox who are buried at Arlington.
According to organizers, there were an estimated 568 gravesites at which AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope members presented a wreath and paused in remembrance of those who perished for America.
“I commend the AHEPA family of the metro Washington, DC area for its carefully detailed effort to honor properly the memory of the brave souls of our community who sacrificed for our freedom,” Supreme President Carl R. Hollister said.
Since 1924 Ahepans have returned annually to Arlington to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Supreme President Carl R. Hollister, a retired U.S. Army Major with 21 years of active and reserve service, of which 17 years were spent in Special Operations with tours of duty in Central America and Central Asia, stated:
“This week, we honored the sacrifices of those throughout our nation’s history, who paid the ultimate price, and we expressed — in a small yet significant way — our community’s gratitude to our nation’s fallen.
“It is especially meaningful for our Order to perform this ceremony during a time in our nation’s history when our brave men and women continue to be in harm’s way.”
Source: usa.greekreporter.com