Community Celebrates Greek Independence Day

                                   Photographs By John Murray

Four-year-old Zois Tzepos, left, and Markos Tzepos, 8, were in full Greek costume during a Greek Independence Day Celebration at Waterbury City Hall Saturday morning. 

During the festitivities Constantine “Gus” Koulouris, left,  was named Greek Mayor For the Day in the city by Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary.

During a raising of the Greek flag over City Hall, one of Gus Koulouris’ granddaughters darted across the brick plaza to join the family for the big moment.

Mayor O’Leary loves the cultural celebrations at City Hall and said he was delighted to see so many youthful faces at Saturday’s event.

There were dozens of children at the Independence Day celebration, but plenty of the tradional old guard were on hand to sing the Greek National Anthem, and enjoy the “Greek” moment inside City Hall.

Zois Tzepos sought refuge from the attention of two local photojournalists behind the blue and white stripes of the Greek flag.

The children, like Markos Tzepos, brought a vibrancy and humor to the celebration that most weekday celebrations lack.

Led by Pantelis Tinios and Androulla Louca more than a dozen Greek-American children performed traditional Greek dances for the audience packed inside Waterbury City Hall.