March 24th – Greek Independence Day at the NJ State House

The New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission

PRESS RELEASE

March 24, 2025, Trenton, NJ: Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese of District 36 hosted the Greek-American Community at the New Jersey State House during the opening of the Voting Session of the State Assembly. Speaker of the Assembly Craig Coughlin, presided over the presentation of a Joint Senate/Assembly Resolution recognizing Greek Independence Day.

In attendance were the members of the Hellenic-American Heritage Commission: Ridgefield Councilman James (Dimitrios B.) Kontolios, Government Relations Consultant Constantina Meis, Asteris Fanikos, Esq., Evelyn Tsiadis; Hellenic Federation of NJ: President Dr. Peter Stavrianidis, Pancretan Association District 2 Governor Gary Ahladianakis, South Jersey Vice-President Adam Moraitis, Angeliki Hionis; AHEPA District 5 Lodge: Evans John; AHEPA Daughters of Penelope Grand Lodge: Antonette Zachariades.

His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey led the State Assembly in prayer and the Honorable Iphigenia Kanara, NY Consul General of Greece, addressed the elected officials on behalf of the Hellenic Republic of Greece.

The Greek flag was raised above the State House for the second time and it was the first time the Greek-Americans were on the Assembly floor in New Jersey history. Greek-Americans from throughout the state including with Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas of St. George Hamilton and Fr. Panagiotis Lekkas of Kimisis Tis Theotokou Holmdel were in the gallery above viewing the proceedings.

Assemblyman Calabrese and his Chief of Staff, Catherine Suarez, hosted a luncheon in Committee Room 12. Elected officials who addressed the guests: Speaker Craig Coughlin (District 19), Assemblywomen Ellen Park and Shama Haider (District 37), Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter and Assemblyman Alaa Abdelaziz (District 35), Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (District 20), Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (District 29), Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (District 25), Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul (District 11), Assemblywoman Lisa Swain and Assemblyman Chris Tully (District 38).