In Honor of the 40th Anniversary of Glendi

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Glendi, a Greek festival held annually in my hometown of Manchester, NH. Over the past four decades, St. George's Greek Orthodox Cathedral has hosted this event, which celebrates Greek culture, crafts, music, and, of course, food

Every year, Glendi brings together thousands of people from across New Hampshire and the region to celebrate the contributions and traditions of Greek culture in America. I grew up and remain a member of the St. George's family, which for over 100 years has welcomed the faithful to gather and be part of this tight-knit community. Now as a member of Congress I could not be more proud to mark this milestone.

My great-grandfather Arthur Papathanasiou left Livadi, Elassona, a tiny hilltop town in Turkish-occupied northern Greece, to start a better life in 1906, and like many Greek immigrants, his family brought their culture and food and traditions with them.

As a life-long resident of Manchester, Glendi was always a highlight and the chance to see those traditions and culture on display was particularly special. There is truly no better celebration of the many contributions the Greek community have made in the greater Manchester area than Glendi.

By sharing our Greek traditions with the broader Manchester community, the festival makes our city more inclusive and open.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I want to thank George Copadis--President of the Board of Directors, Father Mike, and the St. George's community for their decades of dedication to our community. I congratulate them on this milestone and thank them for all that they do to make our state such a wonderful place to learn, live, and eat.

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