US President Joe Biden (80) held a reception at the White House last Wednesday to honor Greek Independence Day (March 25). “It’s wonderful to welcome you all to the White House to celebrate 202 years of Greek independence and all the great contributions that Greeks and Greek Americans have made to our country,” Biden said in his speech.
At the ceremony he welcomed, among others, actor Tom Hanks (66) and his wife Rita Wilson (66), who has Greek roots. The singer and film producer also performed four songs on stage. After her performance, Biden praised her singing, jokingly adding, “The only thing I’m concerned about is your taste in men.” He then invited Hanks onto the stage, who replied, “I’m not Greek. But I had the common sense to marry one.”
“Dream came true,” Wilson wrote on Instagram along with photos of her performance. Wilson’s father was from Bulgaria, her mother from Greece. “As a first-generation American, I am forever grateful to my parents who shared their Greek and Bulgarian heritage with pride and love,” she continued in the post. “My parents loved America deeply and instilled in me the values of freedom and democracy.” Her father, Allan Wilson, “changed his name to become a US citizen,” and voted Wilson after President Woodrow Wilson. Every day my father said, ‘God bless America’. And I say, God bless my father, my mother, Dorothy, President Biden and the First Lady. God bless America.”
Wilson and Tom Hanks, who celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on April 30, received Greek citizenship in 2020. The couple regularly holiday in Greece and own a house on the island of Antiparos. The two have also produced several Greek-related films over the years, including My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
