PRINTER'S NO. 3339
No. 325 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, McGEEHAN, MARKOSEK, NAILOR, THOMAS,
CAPPABIANCA, CALTAGIRONE, DEMPSEY, COY, GODSHALL, LYNCH,
GIGLIOTTI, DONATUCCI, PESCI, KAISER, SANTONI, MASLAND,
SHANER, BAKER, FAIRCHILD, ROBERTS, PETTIT, READSHAW, DENT,
GEIST, LEH, BROWN, WALKO, McCALL, BEBKO-JONES, WOGAN, MELIO,
LEDERER, E. Z. TAYLOR, RUBLEY, CLARK, SATHER, HERSHEY,
SCHRODER, CORRIGAN, LUCYK AND ROBINSON, MARCH 26, 1996
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 26, 1996
A RESOLUTION
1 Proclaiming April 24, 1996, 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
1 freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles
2 sacred to this very day; and
3 WHEREAS, During World War I, some 1,500,000 Armenians were
4 massacred as a result of actions of the Ottoman Empire. Many
5 others were forced to flee from Armenia; and
6 WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of
7 genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precedent to the
8 Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a
9 reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and
10 WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the
11 progress of America by their activities in the arts, business,
12 the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in
13 government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy the highest
14 executive offices; and
15 WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed for over 70 years as
16 Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for
17 their beliefs and principles; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April
19 24, 1996, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the
20 Armenian genocide.
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