“Εθνικός Κήρυξ—NATIONAL HERALD WAY”
Days before the paper’s 101st birthday, Astoria street is renamed in its honor—in both Greek and English
YESTERDAY, March 30th, just three days before the paper turns 101, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and Council Member Constantinides joined The National Herald staff and members of the Greek-American and Cypriot-American Community to unveil Εθνικός Κήρυξ—National HeraldWay, the first street in New York City named in Greek.
“It’s a very exciting day for New York City’s Greek- and Cypriot-American community, as we officially rename 30th Street between 37th and 38th Avenue Εθνικός Κήρυξ—National Herald Way,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “I’m proud to have sponsored this street renaming, which is a well-deserved commemoration of the contributions The National Herald has made to my home neighborhood of Astoria. For over a century, The National Herald has been a beacon of progressive press, not only connecting Greek- and Cypriot-Americans to news in their home countries, but also assisting needy families here in New York City. The National Herald helps make Astoria one of the best neighborhoods in our city.”
“The National Herald has provided valuable information about news and current events to Greek-Americans throughout our country,” said Council Member Costa Constaninides. “Since its founding over 100 years ago, the newspaper has been a dedicated Greek language media outlet and one of the oldest continually published dailies in the United States. The National Herald Foundation has provided charitable services for families in need and has promoted childhood education. Its in-depth coverage of both domestic issues, as well as foreign-policy and Greece-related news, is a vital resource for our community. We’re proud to commemorate The National Herald with this street co-naming and thank Council Member Van Bramer for his strong leadership.”
“I thank Councilman Van Bramer for helping to make this great day possible,” said Antonis H. Diamataris, publisher of The National Herald. “I have felt for a long time that today we do justice to the generations of Greek Americans who came to these blessed shores beginning about 125 years ago, and with hard and honest work were able to put deep roots into this country, to start families, to build churches and schools, to help their families back home and yes, to publish The National Herald.”
The National Herald – Ethnikos Kyrix was founded on April 2, 1915, as a progressive newspaper for the rapidly growing Greek immigrant population in New York, making it one of the oldest continually published dailies in the country. The National Herald’s current publisher purchased the newspaper in 1979, long after the community’s center of gravity shifted from Manhattan to Astoria and Long Island City. Today, The National Herald directly provides jobs for more than 40 people, and offers Greek and Cypriot-Americans with valuable information and connections to the land of their birth.
The newspaper’s publisher has also established The National Herald – Ethnikos Kyrix Foundation as a 501(c)3 organization. The foundation operates a charitable fund to assist needy families in the community, and supports educational and cultural endeavors. The National Herald has helped spearhead such civic projects as the Athens Square cultural space, used by Astorians of all backgrounds, and the Herald is a leading voice for the support of education in the Greek-American community.