N E W S R E L E A S E


Ahepans Honor America’s Fallen Heroes
Members Pay Their Respects at Arlington National Cemetery


WASHINGTON—A proud tradition continued on Memorial Day 2005, when members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the largest and oldest American-based Greek heritage grassroots membership organization, paid their respects on behalf of the Greek-American community to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, democracy, and liberty
at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Since
1924 Ahepans have returned annually to Arlington for this memorial.

Supreme President Franklin R. Manios, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps; retired Army Colonel Nicholas P. Vamvakias, retired Navy Captain Demosthenes N. Kolaras, and Michael Manios, also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, participated in the wreath laying ceremony. An Honor Guard Specialist assisted them.

“It is a unique and powerfully moving experience,” said Manios, who during the ceremony, reflected upon his fellow Marine Corps servicemen with whom he served in the mid-1950s. “It is especially meaningful to perform this ceremony at this time in our nation’s history when our brave men and women are in harm’s way. This is one of the greatest honors anyone can perform and a small way of expressing our community’s gratitude to our fallen heroes.”

440 Gravesites Memorialized at Arlington

On Sat., May 28, members of AHEPA Chapter 31, Washington, DC, gathered to memorialize those identified as Greek-Americans or Greek Orthodox who are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. According to members of the chapter, there are roughly 440 gravesites at which Ahepans present a bouquet of artificial flowers and pause in remembrance of those who perished for our nation. The chapter has performed this ceremony annually since 1949. This year, members from AHEPA Chapter 438, Arlington, Va. also assisted.

“I commend Chapter 31 for its carefully detailed effort to properly honor and remember the memory of those brave souls of our community who sacrificed so much for freedom,” said Manios.

For more information about Arlington National Cemetery, please visit www.arlingtoncemetery.org.

The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence.

The AHEPA family consists of four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.

For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, 202.232.6300, or visit www.ahepa.org/joinahepa. For instant information visit www.ahepa.org.