TRENTON – Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 68 to extend the New Jersey Hellenic-American Heritage Commission. The Commission was first created in 2009 and was set to expire on June 11, 2019. This executive order will ensure that Hellenic heritage continues to be recognized and studied in New Jersey.
“The Hellenic community has contributed tremendously not just to this State, but to this country as a whole,” said Governor Murphy. “We know that vibrant contributions like those made by this community are the bedrock of our democracy, and that is why I have ordered the Commission to continue its important work.”
“With Governor Murphy’s continuing support, the NJ Hellenic-American Heritage Commission looks forward to maintaining the noble ideals set forth by our ancient forefathers and mothers,” said Dr. Zenon Christodoulou, Chair of the NJ Hellenic-American Heritage Commission. “During history’s many ebbs and flows, Hellenic ideals have been the beacon of light to see the unlimited worth of each human being and to achieve society’s highest aspirations. The Commission is proud to continue the work envisioned by Governor Corzine along with our dedicated commissioners and countless supporters who selflessly keep the finest qualities of the Western tradition alive and well.”
“I applaud the Governor’s decision to extend the workings of the Hellenic-American Heritage Commission,” said Jim Kirkos, President of Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce. “These efforts can foster cultural and tourism exchanges along with facilitating economic development and investment opportunities to promote New Jersey internationally. As a proud American of Greek decent, I am thankful for efforts to bring cultures together for a better New Jersey.”
“As Director of Stockton University’s Pappas Center for Hellenic Studies, I am extremely pleased that Governor Murphy extended the New Jersey Hellenic-American Heritage Commission,” said Tom Papademetriou, Executive Director of the Pappas Center for Hellenic Studies at Stockton University. “As Stockton’s Hellenic Studies center is part of a New Jersey state university, we take seriously the Commission’s goal of disseminating knowledge of the heritage, culture, and history of Hellenes and Americans of Hellenic ancestry. Governor Murphy’s leadership in this Executive Order confirms for us the critical importance Hellenic heritage, history, and culture play for our students, for New Jersey residents, and more broadly for the people of the United States.”
“I thank the Governor for supporting the Hellenic-American community and recognizing the Hellenic-American contribution to New Jersey, our country, and Western Civilization,” said Paul Adams, President of the New Jersey Chapter of the Greek American Chamber of Commerce.
Copy of Executive Order #68
