2008 Speeches and Articles
Remarks by Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard
U.S. Embassy Independence Day Celebration
Jefferson House, Athens
July 3, 2008
Κυρίες και κύριοι, καλησπέρα σας. Καλωσορίσατε! Σας ευχαριστώ θερμά που ήρθατε απόψε στην κατοικία μας, για να γιορτάσουμε όλοι μαζί την εθνική επέτειο Ανεξαρτησίας της Αμερικής. Είναι μεγάλη μας τιμή που είστε εδώ. Για μένα και την οικογένεια μου, αυτή είναι η πρώτη χρονιά εδώ στην Ελλάδα, και είμαι πολύ υπερήφανος που εκπροσωπώ την πατρίδα μου στην χώρα που γέννησε την δημοκρατία.
[Translated text: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon and welcome. Thank you very much for coming to our home tonight to celebrate America’s Independence Day together. It is our great honor to have you here. This is the first year for me and my family here in Greece, and I am very proud to be representing my country in the land that gave birth to democracy.]
Now permit me to switch to English for our non-Greek speaking guests (and, truth be told, because I’ve run out of Greek vocabulary!) to welcome you to Jefferson House, which is named after Thomas Jefferson, the author of America’s Declaration of Independence and our country’s first diplomat.
Like many of America’s founding fathers, Jefferson knew and admired Greece because of its classical philosophy and his interest in the origins of languages. In 1823, he wrote the following about modern Greece and its struggle for independence:
“Possessing ourselves the combined blessing of liberty and order, we wish the same to other countries, and to none more than Greece, which, the first of civilized nations, presented examples of what man should be.”
This captures the heart of the relationship between our two countries – the shared values of liberty, democracy, and the profound respect for human rights. And over the years, we have continued to support each other and learn from each other in our pursuit of these values.
So once again, I want to say that it is a great honor for me and all of us at the U.S. Embassy to represent America in the place where democracy was born, and to express the best wishes and thanks to all the people of Greece as we mark the anniversary of my own country’s democratic birth.
Let me close by recognizing the important role that Greek-Americans play in strengthening the understanding and strong bonds between our countries. In that regard, I am particularly pleased that AHEPA, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, is holding its Supreme Convention here in Athens this week. A warm welcome and best wishes to all of them.
And finally, I want to pay tribute to Tom Countryman, the Deputy Chief of Mission, who is marking his last day in the office with this great celebration. He is an outstanding diplomat, a true patriot, and a good friend of Greece. We are going to miss him tremendously, and I know he is going to miss this beautiful country. Thank you, Tom, for all the sacrifice and service you gave over the last three years, and thank you Didi for the support that you and the kids gave him and your own contributions to the Embassy community.
Thank you all for coming tonight and sharing in this birthday celebration. Ευχαριστώ πολύ.