DES PLAINES, IL – The students, teachers, priests and families of Pythagoras Greek School at St. John the Baptist Church in Des Plaines, Illinois, celebrated with pride and respect the heroic spirit of ’40 at their annual ‘OXI’ Day event held on October 25 this year.
Guest speaker Nikolaos Arabatzis, retired Major General, explained to everyone the historical events that took place along with information about the Battle of Hill 731, which was one of the most crucial battles of the Greco-Italian War. The clashes lasted 15 days, from March 9-24, 1941 and ended with the Greeks prevailing.
“Every year on such a day, we remember October 28, 1940,” Pythagoras Greek School Principal Georgia Katsis shared in a statement to The National Herald. “Every year we must remember! We must remember that we are Greeks with a common language, a common religion, a common history and a great love for this sacred place called Greece. We must remember all those who fought and sacrificed… not for material goods but for their love, love for the homeland, love for religion, love for family, love for humanity, love for freedom! Honor to the fighters of 1940! Long live October 28, 1940!”
