Speaker Paul Ryan greets Lt. Col. James Megellas and his wife, Carole, as Meredith Walker and Supreme Vice President Andrew Zachariades look on.
AHEPA, Hellenic Caucus Co-host Congressional Reception for WWII Veteran Lt. Col. Megellas; Speaker Ryan Attends
AHEPA, in cooperation with U.S. Reps.Gus Bilirakis(R-FL) andCarolyn Maloney(D-NY), co-chairs, the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues; and U.S. Rep.Pete Sessions(R-TX), hosted a congressional reception for World War II VeteranLt. Col. James “Maggie” Megellas(U.S. Army, ret.), the most-decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, last night on Capitol Hill.
Nearly 20 members of Congress attended the reception in appreciation
Ambassador Christos Panagopoulos, Lt. Col. Megellas, and Supreme President James Galanis. An American flag that flew above the U.S. Capitol in honor of Megellas is displayed on the table.
for Megellas, who originally hails from Fond du Lac, Wisc., includingSpeaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan(R-WI). The reception featured remarks from: U.S. Reps. Bilirakis and Maloney as well asSupreme President John GalanisandAmbassador of Greece to the U.S. Christos Panagopoulos. More than 75 persons attended.
Megellas, an AHEPA Life Member, is the recipient of the: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, Belgian Fourragere, and Dutch Orange Lanyard; and in 2008,the German government honored him for his role in liberating the Wobbelin Concentration Camp, May 2, 1945.
“We sincerely appreciate the hard work of Representatives Bilirakis, Maloney, and Sessions, and their staffs, who helped to make tonight’s event a wonderful experience for everyone,” Galanis said. “We also thank all the members of Congress who took time out of their busy schedules to meet Maggie. We pledge to continue our efforts, working with our allies on Capitol Hill, to ensure Maggie’s case for the Medal of Honor is granted review and reconsideration because he most deserves the honor.”
Trilateral Summit Issues Declaration to Strengthen Cooperation
A trilateral summit concluded Jan. 28 in Cyprus between the leaders of Cyprus, Greece, and Israel to discuss strengthening ties in the security, energy, economic and political arenas between the three countries.
to visit these three countries. During the Mission, the delegation spoke with the prime ministers, presidents and top officials from Israel, Greece and Cyprus, exploring the major policy issues and concerns as well as ways to foster ties between the people of the three countries.
AHEPA is proud to announce itshonoreesfor the Midwest Gala, Feb. 20, 2016, Hyatt Regency Chicago. They are: Rev. Dn. ChrisAvramopoulos, director, Youth and YAL Ministries, Metropolis of Chicago; Philanthropist EleniBousis, John P.Calamos, CEO/chairman and global co-chief investment officer, Calamos Asset Management; Hon. Charles P.Kocoras, judge, Northern District of Illinois; and U.S. Rep. Peter J.Visclosky(D-IN), member, Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues and House Committee on Appropriations.
“We salute and congratulate our honorees,” Supreme President John W. Galanis said. “They exemplify excellence in the community. We’re excited about our program, and we’re looking forward to a fun evening.”
Congress has returned to Washington to commence the Second Session of the 114th Congress. AHEPA asks that you help us to grow the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues to newer heights. The Hellenic Caucus has been an active, bipartisan group in Congress since its founding in 1995. It is co-chaired by U.S. Reps. GusBilirakis(R-FL) and CarolynMaloney(D-NY).
Ahepans tour the Saint Nicholas construction site.
AHEPA is determined to meet its Saint Nicholas Capital Campaign fund raising goal. The administrative year is well underway and donations–large and small–are pouring in for AHEPA’s#RebuildStNicholascapital campaign.
We sincerely thank our latest donors: AHEPA Chapter 314, Las Vegas, Nev.,Woodrow Wilson Chapter 241, Newport News, Va.,Aristoteles Chapter 34, Pittsburgh, Pa.,AHEPA Chapter 407, Augusta, Ga.,Juan De Fuca Chapter 177, Seattle, Wash. andAHEPA Chapter 140, Albany, N.Y. for their recent donations!
Our#RebuildStNicholascampaignwebpagehas been updated to reflect the many generous donations we received over the summer.
Has your district or chapter organized a fundraiser for the campaign to #RebuildStNicholas? Take action and support AHEPA’s campaign today! Please tweet about your fundraising activity by using #RebuildStNicholas to share your work with the broader community!
AHEPA mourns the passing of Rev. John Romas, who presided over Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was destroyed on September 11, 2001. He passed away January 24, 2016 at the age of 86.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Father Romas,” Supreme President John Galanis said. “He worked ceaselessly toward the reconstruction of Saint Nicholas following September 11, including with AHEPA as together we successfully helped to cut the red tape of bureaucracy so that Saint Nicholas may one day rise again. May his memory be eternal.”
The winter issue of The Ahepanis out! Share it with family and friends by forwarding this electronic version.
Read about how AHEPA honored excellence in the Boston community and maintained its commitment to education through its National Educational Foundation. Also, check out the latest on how AHEPA chapters give back to the community.
Click on the magazine icon to read it today!
Upcoming Events
February
19-20 – Supreme Lodge, Board of Trustees Meetings, Chicago
Visual Journey | The WaypointThe Washington Post Take a visual journey through the island of Lesbos and follow refugees on their way to Europe…read more
Two Greek islanders and actress Susan Sarandon to be nominated for Nobel Peace PrizeANA-MPA(Jan. 31)Emilia Kamvysi, a 85-year old woman from Lesvos island, a 40-year old fisherman Stratis Valiamos and the actress Susan Sarandon have been nominated for the Nobel Prize, according to sources. A petition on the website in favour of the nomination of Greek islanders has amassed more than 500,000 signatures...read more
Greece-Cyprus-Israel pact seen creating many benefitsEkathimerini(Jan. 29) Greek diplomatic sources said on Friday that a cooperation agreement signed in Nicosia between the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Israel could lead to significant political and economic developments. The Nicosia Declaration followed Thursday’s trilateral summit between Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While it covered a number of areas of potential cooperation between the three countries, which made it clear that Turkey and Egypt could join the group, Greek sources focused on the potential economic gains from the three signatories working together in the energy sector…read more
Israel and Greece send message to Turkey: Our friendship is not aimed against youJerusalem Post (Jan. 27) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, sent a message to Ankara on Wednesday, saying the growing alliance between the two states, together with Cyprus, is not aimed against Turkey, with whom all three have tense ties. “Our cooperation with Greece and Cyprus stands on its own,” Netanyahu said at a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Tsipras. “We believe it is long overdue, and are very happy about the progress. It is independent of efforts to normalize relations with Turkey.”…read more
Biden, Cypriot President Anastasiades discuss Cyprus settlement: White HouseReuters(Jan. 29) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden phoned Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades to discuss work toward a settlement deal on the divided Mediterranean island, the White House said on Friday.The leaders also discussed talks held on Thursday by Greece, Israel and Cyprus exploring the possibility of building a natural gas pipeline to Europe, the White House said in a statement. Biden also spoke with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the issue on Friday, the White House said...read more
Quinnipiac hockey standout Sam Anas tries to blaze a trail from Maryland to the NHLWashington Post(Jan. 28) If Sam Anas ran or dribbled or threw, his path to collegiate and professional sports would have been much clearer. Hundreds of teenagers from his home state earn athletic scholarships every year, and a number have gone on to the NFL and the NBA. But Sam Anas doesn’t run. He skates. He doesn’t dribble or throw. He dekes. As the offensive catalyst for Quinnipiac ice hockey –the top-ranked NCAA Division I team in the country– Anas is an anomaly but not because he was a slight, 5-foot-7, 130-pound high school senior when he committed to the Hamden, Conn. university. No, what makes Anas an anomaly is the place he and those hockey skills call home…read more
Thanasis Antetokounmpo finally gets shot with Knicks
NY Daily News(Jan. 30) Thanasis Antetokounmpo could use a nickname like his younger brother Giannis, aka the Greek Freak, because Thanasis Antetokounmpo may be a good name for Scrabble but it’s a mouthful for NBA broadcasters. Antetokounmpo’s long journey – Athens to the Westchester Knicks of the D-League – finally reached Madison Square Garden on Friday when the Knicks signed their former second-round pick to a 10-day contract. The goal is to score a second 10-day contract and eventually land a deal for the remainder of the season. So that gives Antetokounmpo 20 days to make an impression and it gives his teammates plenty of time to find a suitable nickname. Zinger, of course, is already taken…read more
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