Speech #860198949

In search of freedom as well as for free opportunities. they have geen globetrotters. As such they have flocked to this side of the Atlantic. and today there are more than 600.000 sturdy. hardworking. patriotic. loyal and law abiding GreekAmericans in this great Republic. It is true that the beginning of Greek immigration dates back to some 400 years. but actually. the arrival of the bulk of Greek immigrants are of relatively recent date. Mass immigration had its start during the last decade of the last century. and attained its peak during the 1920s. Since then the number of Greek immigrants have declined. mostly because of legal restrictions. but they are still coming. sometimes under special legislative acts. at about 1.000 or more annually. In this county Greeks have settled in many metropolitan areas and commercial centers. and the have been a boon to the commercia/ life in many communities. It is trhe that in their early days Greek immigrants were employed as farm laborers. construction workers. and in factories. But later many came to our cities and began new careers. There some began business on pushcarts. as fruit and ice cream vendors.