For yet another year, the "heart" of New York is "dressed" in Greek colors once again with the magnificent Grand Parade of the Greek Diaspora on 5th Avenue, in downtown Manhattan. More than 100 organizations, 56 floats, 11 philharmonic bands - among them the Old Philharmonic of Corfu that traveled to New York from Greece with 90 musicians - and of course the Evzones of the Presidential Guard, who also came from Greece, and with their imposing presence sent shivers of emotion to the thousands of attendees.
Eva Metis Koutoumanou - Photo: Christian Pappas
The Greek expatriates of New York, as every year, honored the anniversary of Greek Independence with a magnificent parade and 5th Avenue was "flooded" with Greek colors.
Thousands of people gathered in the heart of Manhattan to celebrate one of the most glorious moments of Hellenism, which is captured with every magnificence in the great Greek parade in the center of the metropolis of the world, in New York.
Previously, a Doxology had been performed at the Holy Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, officiated by Archbishop Elpidoforos and in the presence of the Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament Giannis Plakiotakis, the President of SYRIZA Stefanos Kasselakis, the MEP of New Democracy Vangelis Meimarakis, the MPs Filippos Fortomas, Nina Kasimatis, Theofilos Xanthopoulos, Milena Apostolaki, Rena Dourou, the candidate MEP of New Democracy George Aftias, the Ambassador of Greece in Washington Aikaterini Nasika and the Consul General of Greece in New York Dinos Constantinou.
During the Doxology, the president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, read "PISTEVO" in English and the New Democracy MEP, Vangelis Meimarakis, read it in Greek.
Following, more than 100 organizations with 56 floats and 11 philharmonic bands, among them the Old Philharmonic of Corfu – which traveled from Greece to New York with 90 musicians – expatriate organizations, communities, schools and thousands of citizens – many dressed in national costumes and all holding Greek flags – filled the streets of New York with blue and white colors, giving a dynamic presence to the most emblematic event of Greek Diaspora.
The 5th Avenue once again beats with a Greek pulse with Greek expatriates parading to the sounds of marches, while "Makedonia Xakousti" (Renowned - Greek - Macedonia) was heard loudly!
This year's big parade in New York had also an additional message of Hellenism as it was dedicated to the fifty years from the Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.
The Grand Master of Ceremonies of this year's parade was the Greek Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, who, however, due to the developments in the Middle East and Iran's drone attack on Israel, hastily departed for Greece on Saturday night, after attending, however, the official dinner at the Hilton, where he gave an honorary speech.
The Evzones of the Presidential Guard, of course, who came from Greece, attracted everyone's admiration and with their imposing presence sent shivers of emotion to the thousands of attendees, as they paraded proudly and in perfect formation, in the center of New York.
