A few years ago, a very supportive member, reknowned for his commercial-size tubs of coleslaw, got tired of typing 'Fourth Of July,' over and over. He began referring to the event as FOJ. It sounded so formidable ... and was so quick to type! We adopted it, and busy organizers have been using it ever since.
Here are a couple of photos from the years we could find easily. There are more! More photos per year will be linked here, below. They'll open a google doc for so anyone -- social media maven or social media avoider -- can view them.
More years? Well, that's up to all of you. If you have some, from any year going back, further back, or in between, send a note to [email protected] and we'll arrange the best way to get them to us to add to the collection.
Whether you made it to any of the parties or not, have a look at the photos here. And check back, as we'll be adding to them. You'll see some old friends and maybe some new ones.
And we hope you'll come out to Marathon and environs for the 2024 celebration. Link arms for the campaign ahead and help us create some new memories.
DAGR Independence Day Celebration - July 7, 2013
The venue was the Calypso Hotel and taverna on the south coast. Setting up the check-in here are DAGR stalwarts of the time: Elena Bacalis, Treasurer John Bacalis, an unnamed (for now) friend, and board member Nick Angelakis.
By the end of the evening, folks were leaning back to watch the program, reading of the Declaration, and fireworks. Artist Katerina Zaferaki is standing, admiring her husband Kostas, whose humor and verve kept us all enthused.
Board member Kostas Zaferakis at the 2013 event. See what we mean? You couldn't help but be enthused!
DAGR Independence Day Celebration - July 7, 2015
The Greek-Egyptian Marine Club, the new venue found by Events chair Nikki Fellouris, was closer to Athens center, a bit easier to reach. We had the whole outdoor basketball court to fill. Athens Chapter chair Marion Kavallieros dragooned husband Miltos into blowing up about a hundred balloons to round out the rest of the festive decor she put together.
A slight miscalculation re 'heat, lack of shade, start time of event' was relieved as the sun finally dropped toward the headland to the west. But it didn't stop hearty Dems Abroad from filling the space. Nick Loisos made the rounds of tables collecting responses for our first tongue-in-cheek political 'straw poll.'
DAGR Independence Day Celebration - July 9, 2016
Learning from 2015, we started a tad later. We moved the entrance to the big gate from the parking area. AND moved the sign-in to the shade next to the gate! DAGR Secretary Charity Moschopoulos, the sign-in crew and attendees alike all thought it was a great improvement.
The dipped behind the trees and the food came out. This time the food line was at the building end of the court, closer to the kitchen. Who'da thunk? Fern Valentzas (nearest the camera), Sheila, Lucy Michanou and Steve Medeiros fill the plates for hungry celebrants.
Sarajane Kidd Leone brought her Texas background into play, suggesting we should have a pinata. As an artist, she was also in good stead to make it. But the theme? With the election looming, was it really in good taste to bash Mr. Trump? Dems go high, they said. So, we settled for an orange fat cat instead. Cat lovers got over it. Later, just before the fireworks, the kids dispatched it in short order!