Preparations have commenced for Boston’s Greek Parade on April 7, 2019

BOSTON – The parade in Boston in commemoration of the liberation of Greece after four hundred years Turkish occupation will take place this year on Sunday April 7 at 1PM, as has been officially announced by the organizers.

The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England under the presidency of Bill Kafkas had its first general meeting on January 27 at the Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline. The Federation is in charge of the parade’s organization in cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston and the Consulate General of Greece in Boston.

Some 25 representatives of the various societies that constitute the Federation were present. Rev. Vasilios Bebis represented the Metropolis of Boston and Maria Koukoutsis the Consulate General of Greece.

Kafkas announced that this year there will be a change in the usual program regarding the celebration at the Massachusetts State House. Usually it was done the Friday before the parade, but this year due to the fact that the all rooms are taken on April 5, the celebration will take place on Friday March 29 at 12 noon. He also announced that the annual reception at the Consulate General of Greece will take place on Friday April 5 at 6 PM.

It was also noted that the Federation has received all the authorizations and permits from City Hall required for the parade.

Kafkas pointed out that the parade costs annually between 70 and 75 thousand dollars, which is raised through raffle sales and participation fees.

The annual Gala Dinner of the parade will take place on Saturday, April 6 at the community center of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Boston located at 165 Goddard Avenue in Brookline, MA. The ticket cost per person has been set at $100 dollars.

The memory of Kostas Katsifa, who was killed on October 28 by Albanian police in Northern Epirus will be honored.

The Freedom Award will be given to the Paideia organization established by Elias Tomazos in Connecticut, and which established and built the facilities of the Center for Hellenic Studies “Paideia” at the University of Connecticut.

Demetris Papaslis, former president of the Federation of the Hellenic Societies of New England who is now in charge of a Greek-American unit of evzones, urges, through The National Herald, young Greek-Americans of New England to join the evzones group; practice begins in February.

Takis Lampropoulos said that four bands have been secured and two more will be hired over the next few days. The cultural events following the parade will again be held at Boston Common where five or six dance groups will perform.

Five scholarships will be given to Greek-American students at the Gala Dinner on April 6 to Greek-American college students. The National Herald will also sponsor a $1,000 scholarship for a student who will be chosen by the Federation according to its rules.

The company that makes the floats will create four of five for the Federation this year, and each association may order its own if it wishes to have a float.

Representatives of the Federation will be visiting various states and cities of New England to inform the local Greek-American communities about the parade and the activities and to distribute parade material.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

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