PRINTER'S NO. 1299
No. 110 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, GIGLIOTTI, SAINATO, McCALL, KENNEY,
YOUNGBLOOD, PISTELLA, LEH, STEELMAN, CURRY, MANDERINO,
CIVERA, LUCYK, C. WILLIAMS, BOSCOLA, L. I. COHEN, McGILL,
McNAUGHTON, BENNINGHOFF, RAMOS, CALTAGIRONE, FARGO,
CAPPABIANCA, MARKOSEK, B. SMITH, BELARDI, BEBKO-JONES, PESCI,
SATHER, ARMSTRONG, ITKIN, GEIST, BAKER, MILLER, HALUSKA,
LESCOVITZ, BROWN, LYNCH, WALKO, JAROLIN, FAIRCHILD, HERMAN,
DENT, READSHAW, GODSHALL, HORSEY, SHANER, WOJNAROSKI,
DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ROONEY, BROWNE, RUBLEY, BARRAR,
JOSEPHS, WOGAN, CLYMER, ADOLPH, LEDERER, STABACK, TRUE,
DeLUCA, MELIO, CORRIGAN, HERSHEY, M. COHEN, TIGUE, HENNESSEY,
TRAVAGLIO, SCHRODER, E. Z. TAYLOR, TANGRETTI, McGEEHAN AND
OLASZ, APRIL 3, 1997
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 3, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Proclaiming April 24, 1997, 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
1 Armenians in the United States, in Armenia, and elsewhere
2 throughout the world; and
3 WHEREAS, Armenians have always believed in the principles of
4 freedom of conscience and worship and hold these principles
5 sacred to this very day; and
6 WHEREAS, During World War I, some 1,500,000 Armenians were
7 massacred as a result of actions of the Ottoman Empire. Many
8 others were forced to flee from Armenia; and
9 WHEREAS, These tragic events constitute the first instance of
10 genocide in the 20th century, serving as a precedent to the
11 Holocaust occurring prior to and during World War II and as a
12 reminder of man's inhumanity to man; and
13 WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans have contributed greatly to the
14 progress of America by their activities in the arts, business,
15 the learned professions, academia, philanthropy, and also in
16 government, wherein Armenian-Americans occupy the highest
17 executive offices; and
18 WHEREAS, April 24 has been observed for over 70 years as
19 Armenian Martyrs' Day, to honor the memory of those who died for
20 their beliefs and principles; therefore be it
21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim April
22 24, 1997, as a commemorative day to honor the victims of the
23 Armenian genocide.
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