📍 New York City – March 29, 2025
By Grammaticus Macedon
Before the grand speeches and ceremonial highlights of the 2025 Greek Independence Gala began inside the Ziegfeld Ballroom, the red carpet buzzed with anticipation, pride, and emotion. At the step-and-repeat backdrop, prominent members of the Greek-American community and distinguished guests stopped to share thoughts, dreams, and heartfelt reflections about Hellenism, Greece, and their hopes for the future.
🇬🇷 John Catsimatidis: “I want Greece to survive as Greece”
Billionaire businessman and long-time Hellenic supporter John Catsimatidis offered a passionate tribute to his ancestral homeland:
“Every time I go to Greece, I have tears in my eyes. I feel my Greek blood, I feel my forefathers watching down on me. I just want Greece to survive as Greece.”
He also expressed strong optimism for U.S.-Greek relations, praising the potential appointment of Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece:
“She loves Greek food, Greek dancing, Greek people… She would be a great friend of Hellenism in Athens.”
Catsimatidis concluded with a promise of enduring support:
“Will my family and I continue to fight for Greece and Greek causes? Absolutely. One hundred percent.”
🏛️ Nikos Seretis: “We are one nation – Greece and America”
Nikos Seretis, a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Greek Associations, emphasized unity and the tireless work behind the gala and parade:
“We collected and did the work it took to raise the money… We must all be together and support Greece, not have problems with each other. We are one nation – long live Greece, long live Hellenism, long live America.”
💬 George Kourkoumelis: “Greek customs, nothing else”
Philanthropist and consistent supporter of Greek events, George Kourkoumelis, shared a message of joy and cultural preservation:
“These are beautiful moments. We meet friends we haven’t seen in years. Hellenism means keeping our traditions alive – nothing else. We want Greek manners and customs.”
🇺🇸 Family Reflections: Hellenism through Generations
In a touching moment, an attendee identified only as Mr. Niovis highlighted the intergenerational commitment to Greek identity:
“Every year we prepare our children — with their flags, their uniforms. We become evzones together. We are grateful to the committee. As the years go on, this institution matures.”
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🎞️ A Living Tapestry of Greek America
These interviews, captured spontaneously at the entrance of one of the most prestigious Greek-American events in the United States, serve as a reminder: Hellenism is not confined to speeches and ceremony — it lives in the voices, faces, and hearts of everyday people.
From billionaires to parents, from cultural leaders to passionate supporters, the Step & Repeat interviews at the 2025 Ziegfeld Gala offer a mosaic of modern Greek identity in the diaspora.
🎥 Videography & Editing: Grammaticus Macedon
📅 Event: Greek Independence Gala 2025 – Ziegfeld Ballroom, NYC
