ATHENS, Greece — Her Excellency Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle, United States Ambassador to Greece, hosted the official U.S. Embassy Independence Day Reception on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, commemorating the 250th Anniversary of American Independence.
Among the distinguished guests invited to the historic celebration was Paul Kotrotsios, Publisher of the Hellenic News of America and Founder of Hermes Expo International. He attended the reception with his wife, Iliada Kotrotsios, his daughters, Aphrodite Kotrotsios and Stavroula Panagiotopoulos, and his son-in-law, Dimitrios Panagiotopoulos.
The reception welcomed more than 3,000 distinguished guests representing the diplomatic corps, the Greek government, the U.S. Embassy, business leaders, military officials, members of the cultural community, and civic organizations. The evening celebrated 250 years of American independence while highlighting the enduring alliance between the United States and Greece, two nations united by their shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
During the evening, Paul Kotrotsios had the opportunity to greet Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and Gerry Ismail, the Honorable U.S. Consul General in Thessaloniki, expressing appreciation for the Embassy’s outstanding organization of the landmark celebration.
“It was an immense honor and privilege to attend this historic celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence,” said Paul Kotrotsios. “The evening was a powerful reminder of the enduring friendship between the United States and Greece and the democratic ideals that continue to unite our nations. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and the Embassy of the United States in Greece hosted an exceptional event that reflected the strength of this important relationship.”
The celebration underscored the close diplomatic, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties that have defined U.S.-Greece relations for generations. As America marks its Semiquincentennial, the event also recognized the significant contributions of the Greek-American community and reaffirmed the shared values that continue to strengthen one of the world’s most enduring international partnerships.
The Hellenic News of America congratulates Ambassador Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle and the Embassy of the United States in Greece for hosting an extraordinary evening honoring America’s historic milestone while celebrating the longstanding friendship between the American and Greek people.
Please wait...