PRINTER'S NO. 1529
No. 107 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, HERSHEY, CORRIGAN, BUNT, FICHTER,
HERMAN, CLARK, GIGLIOTTI, GEIST, PESCI, MARKOSEK, CURRY,
LUCYK, STABACK, ROBERTS, HUTCHINSON, TRUE, SATHER, McGEEHAN,
ROONEY, LEH, COLAFELLA, COLAIZZO, HALUSKA, HESS, CAPPABIANCA,
MILLER, TRELLO, PETTIT, RUBLEY, E. Z. TAYLOR, FAJT, STEIL,
JOSEPHS, PITTS, LEDERER, L. I. COHEN, BELARDI, DENT,
LESCOVITZ, D. R. WRIGHT, TIGUE, DeLUCA, HENNESSEY, TANGRETTI,
B. SMITH, BEBKO-JONES, BAKER, WOGAN, YOUNGBLOOD AND CIVERA,
APRIL 10, 1995
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 10, 1995
A RESOLUTION
1 Proclaiming April 24, 1995, 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
1 WHEREAS, Armenians have always believed in the principles of
2 freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles
3 sacred to this very day; and
4 WHEREAS, During World War I, some 1,500,000 Armenians were
5 massacred as a result of actions of the Ottoman Empire. Many
6 others were forced to flee from Armenia; and
7 WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of
8 genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precedent to the
9 Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a
10 reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and
11 WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the
12 progress of America by their activities in the arts, business,
13 the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in
14 government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy the highest
15 executive offices; and
16 WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed for over 70 years as
17 Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for
18 their beliefs and principles; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April
20 24, 1995, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the
21 Armenian genocide.
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