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Fayetteville, others followed. In the
1940s through the 1960s, the families
were fleeing the country and, one by one,
they found sponsors in North Carolina.
Now, there are as many as 75 local Greek
families. In 2007, a contingent of local
residents of Greek heritage appeared
before the Cumberland County Board
of Commissioners to ask that a sister
county relationship be established with
Evrytania, and the commissioners agreed.
Cumberland County now has a "sister"
community in addition to Fayetteville's
sister city, St. Avold, in France.
That year of 2007 was significant
for another reason. It marked the 50th
anniversary of the hub of the local Greek
community, the Saint Constantine and
Helen Greek Orthodox Church on
Oakridge Avenue. The commemorative
book published on that occasion is
a veritable Who's Who in the Greek
community, with fascinating family
histories of some well-known – and some
less well-known – names in Fayetteville.
And in September, the 19th Annual
Hellenic Festival brought together many
Greek families who enjoy the food,
the music, the dancing as part of their
heritage. Many other families, not Greek,
also enjoyed a joyous good time.
The influence of those Greek families
who came to Cumberland County from
Evrytania – and other areas of Greece as
well – has been profound. Nurturing the
love and affection for their country of
birth, or their parents' birth, they have
nevertheless thrown themselves into
contributory roles in their adopted home.
We have Greek people in our community
who are doctors, attorneys, business
leaders, restaurateurs, elected leaders
and all around good citizens. The Greek
community demonstrates the ability to
remain united and supportive of itself
while at the same time fully integrating
into the surrounding culture at large.
But among all the many contributions
made by this particular ethnic group,
great food has to be one of the most
appreciated.
Here in Fayetteville, some of the fare
we most enjoy comes to us because
there's a Greek in the kitchen.
CV
