April 24, 2007

Town of Matthews, North Carolina
Office of the Mayor

WHEREAS, between 1915-1923 the deaths of more than one and one-half million Christian Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took place by the Ottoman Empire; and

WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter to their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day, in recognition and remembrance of those who died; and

WHEREAS, the year 2007 marks the 92nd anniversary of this tragedy; and

WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are not repeated in future generations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, R. Lee Myers, Mayor of the Town of Matthews, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2007 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY

In Matthews, and encourage all citizens to honor this observance.

WITNESS MY HAND and the official Seal of the Town of Matthews.

[Town of Matthews, N.C. Seal] [Signature of R. Lee Myers, Mayor]