The Greek America Foundation is proud to announce our collaboration and support of a historical exhibition titled “The Hour of Greece” that will be hosted at the Hellenic American University in Athens.
The exhibition features hundreds of items from the personal collection of Greek America Foundation President and Founder Gregory C. Pappas, who has spent years conducting extensive research on Greece in World War II.
“The Hour of Greece” will run from October 24 – December 20, 2019.
More than 300 items will be on display at 22 Massalias Street in Athens — the building that former US Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns once called one of Athens’ two iconic buildings epitomizing the close relationship between the United States and Greece (the other building he mentioned was the US Embassy).
The exhibition includes memorabilia, war relief posters and other rare items demonstrating the close ties between the two nations during the Second World War.
According to Pappas, “The Hour of Greece” aims to tell the story of an entire nation of Americans coming together to support the Greek cause after watching in awe as tiny, ill-equipped Greece pushed the Italians back in October 1940.
“The Amazing Greeks Win Freedom’s First Victory,” said Life Magazine in one of its issues that features in the exhibition. The New York Times carried an editorial in December 1940 calling it “The Hour of Greece.”
Complementing the pieces from Pappas’ personal collection will be select items from the National Archives of Greece, including letters then Greek prime minister Tsouderos received from American president Franklin Roosevelt. The collection also includes pages from the diary of Greek premier Ioannis Metaxas from the days following his historic “No!” to the Italians on October 28, 1940.
Pappas expressed his gratitude to Hellenic American University for supporting the exhibition.
“I’m honored that this exhibition will be hosted by the Hellenic American University, an important organization that has built educational and cultural bridges between the people of two countries that comprise my personal make up — Greece, the country of my heritage, and the United States, the country of my birth,” Pappas said.
He added that the exhibition fulfills a key mission of the Greek America Foundation by preserving an important part of Greek — and American — history.
“Growing up as Americans, we are taught a lot of information about the Second World War, but this aspect of the war has — by and large —remained lesser-known to most of the public. That is why I am so proud to be sharing this exhibition with our greater community.”
During WWII, hundreds of millions of dollars were raised by average Americans while the entire Hollywood community embraced the Greek war relief cause, hosting telethons headlined by stars such as Bob Hope and Judy Garland and concerts at Madison Square Garden featuring singers such as Frank Sinatra.
The Greek American community played a decisive role in organizing and planning the campaign, including outstanding leaders such as then president of Fox Films Spyros Skouras and Archbishop Athenagoras.
Both men led tens of thousands of supporters in hosting coin-collections at restaurants, theater and dance performances and dozens of events that raised tens of millions for the people of Greece.