WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-16), the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was honored at the 29th Annual Cyprus and Hellenic Leadership Conference with the prestigious Frizis Award. This honor is given annually to a prominent member of the Jewish community, in the U.S., for his or her significant contribution to Hellenic issues. It is named after Mordohai Frizis, the Jewish Greek hero who was the first high ranking Greek military officer to give his life in defense of freedom against the Axis Powers in World War II.
“I am honored to be included alongside the great Jewish leaders who have previously received this award. As we mark the 69th Anniversary of D-Day, we must not forget the many heroes who stood up in the face of oppression and cruelty and perished for doing what was right. Mordohai Frizis gave his life so that generations after him would be free. I thank the Cyprus and Hellenic Leadership Conference for the award and will work to continue to the close friendship between the United States, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the Jewish people,” said Rep. Engel.
“The Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Eliot Engel, fits the profile of other Frizis Award winners like UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Carl Levin. His willingness to stand up for what is right for the Hellenic people during their time of need is reminiscent of the courage Colonel Mordohai Frizis showed against the Axis Forces in WWII. Rep. Engel’s actions have proved beneficial to the security interests of the United States and our Eastern Mediterranean friends, and have cultivated the increasingly close relationship between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel,” said Andrew Manatos, President of The Coordinated Effort of Hellenes.
The award contains soil from Greece, the United States and Israel and says – “For commitment to the defense of the principles for which the United States, Israel and Hellenism stand. From this hallowed earth have come these great principles.”
