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+IBwGreek people love politicians and religious leaders, and so they+IBk-re all here,+IB0 said Eleni Gage, an author originally from Grafton, and daughter of author and journalist Nicholas Gage. Also, she is family member to many others at the hotel, and friend to practically all of them.
Indeed, it was like a reunion for many who say they take pride in their culture, and their roots that date back to the Northwestern region of Greece, called Epiros, now a part of Albania. Ms. Gage could point to the people from Worcester, and others from New York, some from Los Angeles and even some from the village in Epiros, where her father came from.
+IBw-I think people like to talk about it. That+IBk-s why there are so many speeches, and everyone is so loud,+IB0 she said.
They were young and old. Many, such as Worcester Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes, could trace their roots to the northern part of the region, which became the southern part of Albania when the country was created in 1913.
The majority had roots in Greece, including former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, Mr. Gage, and even Al and Dorothy Wilson, parents of Rita Wilson and in-laws of Tom Hanks. They came from Los Angeles. Others are local. Still others came from Greece and Epiros, including Nikos Gontas, the mayor of Ioannina, the provincial capital of Epiros.
The reunion was really the 35th gathering of the Panepirotic Federation, an international organization of descendants of Epiros that was formed in Worcester in 1942. The association, with 36 chapters, was formed on behalf of what are called the minorities of Epiros +IBQ Epirotan Greeks who say they have been discriminated against by the Albanian government since the communist takeover after World War II.
During the three-day convention, the group elected new officers, set new agendas and passed a resolution calling on the United States and the European Union, among others, to encourage the Albanian government to grant Epirotan Greeks their religious and cultural rights. But once business was completed, the families and longtime friends, all connected by their common link to Epiros, celebrated in Greek fashion with speeches and circle dances, two national anthems, food and drinks, in what truly became a family reunion. +IBw-There+IBk-s a lot of history here,+IB0 said Mr. Dukakis, whose grandparents were from the village Vrisohori. He+IBk-s been to Greece before, but never the village, and so planned to promise the crowd he would do so on his next trip.
The love of the region binds people beyond common pride of their Greek heritage, said Mr. Gage. He compared it to Sicilians+IBk pride in their homeland +IBQ which goes beyond being Italian. And people remember that mountainous region long after they have come to the United States. +IBw-The unusual thing about people from this area is they have maintained their regional ties more than most people,+IB0 Mr. Gage said. +IBw-Most people don+IBk-t even maintain their ethnic ties after a few generations.+IB0
And it passes on to generations. Al and Dorothy Wilson are 87 and 85 years old and still made the trip from California. In the meantime, Ms. Gage pointed out her 2-year-old godson, the youngest of the crowd. +IBw-You have a connection with people,+IB0 said Demetra Ganias, a TV reporter from New York who co-emceed last night+IBk-s gala with Ms. Gage. +IBw-Even though we live around the country, around the world, there+IBk-s still the connection,+IB0 she said. +IBw-To us, that+IBk-s the amazing thing.+IB0 It was a coming-home for Ms. Ganias, who was born and raised in Worcester. Indeed, she went to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Here she was yesterday, with what she called the leaders of her family+IBk-s heritage: Mayor Gontas, and Metropolitan Methodios, the spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians in New England.
People may have not lived in Greece for 50 years, +IBw-but they+IBk-re still so proud of their heritage, and so eager to teach the next generation,+IB0 she said. +IBw-They feel so strong about it, and it+IBk-s respectable.+IB0
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