Last week, Cranston joined in a statewide celebration of the 200th anniversary of Green Independence Day.

Mayor Ken Hopkins welcomed members of the local Greek community for a brief outdoor ceremony at City Hall on March 25, which featuring remarks and songs before the raising of the Greek flag. That night, City Hall was illuminated with blue light in honor of the occasion.

Sen. Leonidas Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) and Capt. Spyridon Pollatos, a member of the Hellenic Navy who is currently attending the Naval War College in Newport, were among the guests on hand for last week’s ceremony.

Father Andrew George and Father Nicholas Lanzourakis from the Church of the Annunciation, along with a number of parishioners from the Oaklawn Avenue house of worship, were also in attendance.

The Greek Independence Day observance included ceremonies in Providence, East Providence, Pawtucket and Newport. The day commemorates the beginning of the War of Greek Independence in 1821.

(Herald photos)