April 8, 2008

A PROCLAMATION
BY THE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
PINEVILLE, N.C.

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 2008 marks the 93rd Anniversary of this tragedy; and

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

WE THEREFORE DO NOW PROCLAIM, April 24th, 2008 as

ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand and caused the GREAT SEAL OF PINEVILLE to be affixed. Done at Pineville this eighth day of April in the year of our Lord two thousand and eight.

(Signature of Mayor George C. Fowler)

[Signatures of Mayor Pro-Term Libby Boatwright; Jim Eschert, Council; Les Gladden, Council; and David Phillips, Council]