April 20, 2015

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 265 INTRODUCED BY MURT, BARRAR, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DONATUCCI, FARINA, FREEMAN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, KINSEY, KIRKLAND, MAHONEY, MAJOR, McNEILL, MILLARD, READSHAW, SCHWEYER, THOMAS, WATSON, WHEELAND, YOUNGBLOOD AND D. COSTA, APRIL 20, 2015

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 20, 2015

A RESOLUTION

Designating April 24, 2015, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."

WHEREAS, Between 1915 and 1923, the Turkish Ottoman Empire perpetrated genocide on 1.5 million men, women and children of Armenian descent; and

WHEREAS, The massacre of the Armenian people attempted to eliminate all traces of the 3,000-year-old Armenian culture and constituted a crime against humanity; and

WHEREAS, In order to encourage his followers, Adolph Hitler asked, "Who remembers the Armenians?" prior to his initiation of the Holocaust of European Jews; and

WHEREAS, By remembering and openly condemning the atrocities committed against the Armenians, the Commonwealth affirms the need for constant vigilance to prevent similar atrocities in the future; and

WHEREAS, Recognition and public awareness of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide is necessary to ensure that similar acts do not occur in the future; and

WHEREAS, Armenia became a free and democratic republic after nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet rule; and

WHEREAS, Armenian Americans residing in Pennsylvania have greatly enriched this Commonwealth as leaders in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April 24, 2015, as "Pennsylvania's Day of Remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Armenian National Committee of America.