PRINTER'S NO. 3525
No. 301 Session of 1994
INTRODUCED BY PERZEL, APRIL 13, 1994
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 13, 1994
A RESOLUTION
1 Proclaiming April 24, 1994, as a commemorative day for the
2 victims of the Armenian genocide.
3 WHEREAS, The Armenians are an ancient people, having settled
4 in the vicinity of Mount Ararat in the seventh century B.C., and
5 have long been fervent believers in Christianity. That religion
6 became the state religion of Armenia in the fourth century A.D.,
7 making Armenia one of the first nations to accept Christianity;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, Through the actions of St. Gregory the Illuminator,
10 the Armenian Apostolic Church was established in the fourth
11 century A.D. and continues to exist to this present day, along
12 with various other Christian communions to be found among
13 Armenians in the United States, in Armenia, and elsewhere
14 throughout the world; and
15 WHEREAS, Armenians have always believed in the principles of
16 freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles
17 sacred to this very day; and
1 WHEREAS, From the period 1915 to 1918, some 1,500,000
2 Armenians were massacred as a result of actions of the Turkish
3 Ottoman Empire. Many others were forced to flee from Armenia;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of
6 genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precedent to the
7 Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a
8 reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and
9 WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the
10 progress of America by their activities in the arts, business,
11 the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in
12 government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy the highest
13 executive offices; and
14 WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed for over 70 years as
15 Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for
16 their beliefs and principles as a result of Turkish persecution;
17 therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April
19 24, 1994, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the
20 Armenian genocide.
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