Recognizing the Opening of the National Headquarters of the Pancretan Association of America

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pancretan Association of America (PAA) on the ribbon cutting ceremony of their first ever National Headquarters in the greater Washington, D.C. region in Bethesda, Maryland. As a proud Greek American and Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, it is an honor to acknowledge the PAA's work in recognizing and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the island of Crete around the world.

Founded by descendants from Crete, for over 90 years the Pancretan Association of America has been a cornerstone of the Greek-American community, striving to promote the historical significance of Crete, while honoring the cultural and historically Greek values of philoxenia and philotimo. Through its wide array of programs, the PAA promotes the longstanding Hellenic values of education, philanthropy, civil responsibility, and individual excellence. The PAA reaches out to Cretans of all ages and offers programs that strengthen their understanding and recognition of their culture, allows them to enjoy and preserve their heritage, and share it with others. These programs include many social, cultural, and educational activities that encompass Cretan culture, and scholarships that empower Cretan students to continue their education and become effective and responsible citizens.

The Pancretan Association of America's mission to celebrate Crete's historical place in the Hellenic world is critical now more than ever with the ever-expanding relationship between the United States and Greece. I know that I would not be who I am or where I am today without my upbringing in a Greek family, which was so focused on serving others. Through hard work, determination, and the support of the Greek- American community supporting him, my great-grandfather founded what would become our family restaurant, the Puritan Backroom. 106 years later it remains in our family, and the values that my great- grandfather lived by still guide us today. These shared values bind our two nations and our communities together, and I applaud PAA's role in highlighting and furthering those values for generations to come.

I congratulate the Pancretan Association of America on the opening of their first ever National Headquarters. This event marks a significant milestone in their history and is an important step towards the cultural preservation of Crete's heritage, strengthening the ties between our communities, and further solidifying the relationship between the United States and Greece.

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