April 24, 2003

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were the victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide and massacres of Armenian people have been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, The denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish government continues to antagonize the Armenians, South Carolinians are highly sensitive to the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, South Carolina is home to hundreds of Armenian families; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in South Carolina have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert D. Coble, Mayor of the City of Columbia, South Carolina, along with my fellow members of Columbia City Council, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2003 as

"A Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923"

in the City of Columbia.

Signed:
Robert D. Coble
Mayor