Since then, the society aims to preserve the culture, ethnicity, and customs brought here for future generations. The society hosts monthly meetings, social, and an annual dinner dance. In the spirit of philanthropy and community, the funds that are raised throughout the year are used to foster friendship and a sense of belonging among its members, and to a scholarship which is awarded to high school and college students with exceptional academic achievements, whose heritage is rooted in the village of Eleftheriani. The Village of Eleftheriani lies in the mountainous area just about an hour’s drive northeast of the small city of Nafpaktos, Aitoloakarnania in Central Greece. The area is also commonly known unofficially as OREINI Nafpaktia. The Village lies in a valley area with natural mountain barriers and is famously known for the immense covering of fir trees that blanket the entire region. The exact age of the Village of Eleftheriani is not known, however, oral tradition as well as written documents lead to various theories and ideas. The name itself is said to have been derived from the fact no Turk ever set a foot in the Village resulted in the famous name, which is literally translated into the word "Freedom". However, it must be noted that there are other villages in the vicinity that can also lay claim to no Turks having set foot on their land as well. There are other theories on the origin of the name of the Village, but, we as "Leftheriani" enjoy the no Turk legend!!! In 1821, prior to the Greek War of Independence, there were only 10-12 families living in Eleftheriani. The families known to have inhabited the Village were the Kouroumousis, Lois, Panagiotopoulos, Papadopoulos, Petropoulos, Pittas, Polymeropoulos, Seretis and Siamas families. Almost all of these families consisted of one patriarch and they numbered a total of 60-75 people. Every single individual alive today whose roots stem from Eleftheriani can trace their lineage back to at least three of these families if not more. Like all the area villages at the time, Eleftheriani contributed its share of soldiers during the War of Independence. Several of our ancestors fought valiantly for their country’s freedom. Most notably is Captain, Pantelis Polymeropoulos, Kostas Seretis , and the brothers Sotirios and Demetrios Siamas. Of these men, Demetrios Siamas stands out, having sacrificed his life and dying with honors at the Battle of Arahova in 1826. He was the first known person from Eleftheriani to lose his life on a battlefield. Soon after Greece gained its independence after the War, other families began to settle in Eleftheriani. These included the Aggelopoulos, Arvanitis, Barbayannis, Dimopoulos, Georgios, Gizas, Moukas, Nikolopoulos, Tzoumakas and Cholevas families. The population would continue to grow and peak in the 1940’s to nearly 700 people. But by the 1950’s and after the Greek Civil War, families began leaving and settling in Nafpaktos and Athens, as well as migrating with the rest of the Greek diaspora to Australia and, of course, to the US and Canada. These immigrants never forgot their roots and have instilled that sense of identity in their children and grandchildren, many of whom still refer to themselves proudly as "Leftheriani"!!! As the last generation born and raised in the Village moves on, it is the goal of the Society to ensure that this pride and commonality continues on to future generations!
