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RECOLLECTION DAY

AUGUST 25, 1987

Standing L. to R.: George Petropoulos, Mike Kanatas, Josie Chase, Mike Chakeres, Tom Kanatas, George Jameson, Gus Stravelakis. Seated L. to R.: Pete Chakeres, Tom Zanetos, George Brown, Mary Jameson.

One August day in 1987, nine sons and daughters of our pioneers met in the board room of the Anthony Thomas Candy Company to pool their recollections of their par- ents. Mary Chakeres Jameson recalled that it was the women, the mothers, who really were the cohesive force in molding the character of the community by preserving the traditions and the faith, and by raising the children with those standards. Mary's brother, Dr. Mike Chakeres, recalled with emotion the many strong characteristics of their parents, their devotion to family ties, and their desire and love for education. Pete Chakeres shared several family anecdotes. The Chakeres clan was one of the largest families at that time. Tom Zanetos and George Brown showed many early photos taken during picnics, plays, and large family gatherings. The participants recalled with amusement some of the highlights and pitfalls of belonging to a community made up of such a varied mixture of personalities. Also in attendance were the Kanatas brothers, Mike and Tom, who told about early Greek School and the ambitious GAPA band. Mrs. Tom
(Josie) Chase, Gus Stravelakis, and Dr. George Jameson were also at this meeting, all of whom joined our community after marrying their spouses.

(This time of recollection continued for four hours and was videotaped by Kosmas Geo. Synadinos, a member of the Parish Council who organized this get together. This tape will be preserved with the archives of our church.

In 1962, an historical account was put together in a hard-bound edition which chronicles the first 50 years of our community. This book is still available, and we recommend it to your reading.)

Probably the strongest force in the minds of the pioneers was in getting established in the business community. George Petropoulos' father had the American Restaurant across from Union Station. In 1909 over 200 passenger trains were going in and out of Columbus daily, and George's father served thousands of sandwiches to those travelers.

Education ran a close second to business. Greeks booked on poverty and illiteracy as curses and worked hard to overcome them.

Far from being a closed, isolated ethnic group, the Greeks were a part of the world at large. The customers they served, their coworkers, and neighbors were an amalgam of melting pot Americans. In order to assimilate into society, the Greeks pretty much followed the flow of progress around them. The every day events in America affected all of us. To give the reader an idea of what is happening in our world at the time of this publication, we can list the following:

In 1987 we watched on TV as a young Col. Oilie North testified at the Iran-Contra hearings. Many investors watched the stock market results with great apprehension on October 19, 1987, when the United States suffered the greatest crash since 1929.

Two of the best sellers this year are on the family: Bill Cosby's book called Time Flies and Erma Bombeck's latest, Family - The Ties That Bind and Gag! Author Allan Bloom wrote a blockbuster called The Closing of the American Mind in which he agonizes over the decline of quality education in this country. Through
the ups and downs of society, the Greek family
still struggles to remain intact and to pursue a
strong education.

A world event that coincided with our founding was the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Today, 75 years later, the treasures of the Titanic are being brought up to the surface for a world tour.

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