August 15, 2002

The Honorable George H. Ryan
Governor of Illinois
207 Statehouse
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Ryan:

On behalf of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), I applaud you and the Senate of Illinois for enacting the 92nd General Assembly's Senate Resolution 446, which proclaims that "the ancient Macedonians are Hellenes and that the inhabitants of the northern province of Greece, Macedonia, are their Hellenic Descendents". Also important is the resolution's statement that "the history of Ancient Macedonia has been Hellenic for 3,000 years and continues to be today."

By supporting Resolution 446 and adhering to historical realities, you and the Senate of Illinois have set the record straight on an issue of great importance to the Greek American community both in your state, and throughout the country.

AHI congratulates you for this initiative which boldly combats historical revisionism. We encourage you and your colleagues to continue your efforts at examining and supporting the historical facts behind each situation when legislation similar to Resolution 446 is brought forth, and thank you for your support in this matter. We are writing separately to the members of the Illinois State Senate to congratulate them on this initiative.

Respectfully,

Gene Rossides

SENATE RESOLUTION 446

WHEREAS, Philip of Macedonia, his son, Alexander the Great, and his tutor, the philosopher Aristotle, were born and raised in the Northern Province of Greece, Macedonia; and

WHEREAS, The language and culture of the ancient Macedonians, the ancestors of the inhabitants of northern Greece of today, were Hellenic; and

WHEREAS, The Macedonians, like the rest of the Hellenes in Antiquity, believed in the Gods of Olympus and participated with their fellow Hellenes in the Olympic Games; and

WHEREAS, Pella, the palace where Alexander the Great was born, and Vergina, the burial site of the Macedonian kings, are all located in Northern Greece; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that for all of the above reasons, we proclaim that the ancient Macedonians are18 Hellenes and that the inhabitants of the northern province of Greece, Macedonia, are their Hellenic Descendants; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the history of Ancient Macedonia has been Hellenic for 3,000 years and continues to be today; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Antonios Papadopoulos, the Mid-Western District Governor of the Pan-Macedonian Association, Inc.