1980 GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

The Greek Independence Day Parade took place in May of 1980 on State Street, Chicago. The sun was shining; the crowds filled both sides of the street while the Greek schools marched in uniform and the onlookers cheered them on. Sponsored floats featured Greek heros and ancient Greek costumes. The Hellenic flag was waved vigorously by the children in #11A, 12A & 13A while Mayor Jane Bryne spoke at the reviewing stand as Archbishop Iakovos looks on in #22A. Frame #23A features Bishop Iakovos with Archbishop Iakovos to his right. In frame #2A and #27A are Koraes Greek School children that include my cousin Phillip Apostolou wearing a moptop. I am reflected in the mirror in #28A and #29A. My Aunt Dorothy and her sister who is my mother Georgia Alexander are in #33A and finally in #34 is my cousin Maria Mavros Kochilas. Her mother is my Aunt Dorothy in #33A. Cousin Phillip is Dorothy's grandson and nephew to Maria K. You can see why we were drawn to watch the parade. Your family and friends marched and the participants were invested in their future as Hellenes holding up the culture and flags proudly overhead.