April 24, 2007

CITY OF MONROE

PROCLAMATION
"ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY"
P-2007-07

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 witnessed the loss of their relatives and ancestral homeland; and

WHEREAS, ancestral lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been returned to the Armenian people, and the struggle for cultural heritage continues; 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, Bobby G. Kilgore, Mayor of the City of Monroe, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2007 as

"ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY"

in Monroe, North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

WITNESS my hand and the official Seal of the City of Monroe.

[Seal of the City of Monroe, North Carolina] [Signature of Bobby G. Kilgore, Mayor]