NEW YORK, NY – GNUSA
[Photos: Courtesy of the City of Aurora]
The City of Aurora, IL hosted its annual Greek Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, March 25, on the very same day that Greeks around the world celebrate Greek Independence Day, in commemoration of the 204th anniversary of Greece’s fight for freedom and sovereignty.
Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin welcomed nearly 100 attendees, including local residents young and seasoned and leaders of the Greek American community, at One Aurora Plaza which was adorned in blue and white.
This year marked the third time that the Greek flag has been raised in Aurora amid voices ringing out with cries of “Zito i Ellas!” (Long live Greece!), in honor of Greek Independence Day.
Fr. Panagiotis Boznos, the proistamenos of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church in Aurora, IL opened the ceremony with prayer and noted that “the Greeks who came to Aurora continued to strive for freedom, self-determination, and prosperity—and that is what they found in our fair city”.
The roots of Aurora’s Greek community date back to the mid-1940s, when families began arriving from Greece and establishing businesses, social organizations, and religious institutions, states the City of Aurora in a post on social media adding that St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church, founded during this early wave of immigration, has since grown to become one of Illinois’ largest Greek Orthodox parishes.
During the ceremony, members of Aurora’s Greek community were presented with Optimum Participation in Aurora (OPA) Awards of Excellence as a recognition of their contributions to civic life. This year’s recipients are Gregory Kontos, Deacon Vasilios Smith, James and Dena Deligiannis, and the American Philhellenes Society.
