April 18, 2004

WHEREAS, one and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women, and children were the victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government 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, recognition of the eighty-ninth anniversary of this genocide is crucial to guarding against the repetition of future genocide and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Louisiana have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kathleen Babineux Banco, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2004, to be

DAY OF REMEMBERANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIODE OF 1915-1923

in the State of Louisiana

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this the 18th day of April, A.D., 2004

[signed} Kathleen Babineux Banco
Governor of Louisiana

Attest by the Governor
[signed} Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State