Armenian National Committee of Texas
11301 Richmond Ave. Suite K108
Houston, TX 77082
Tel: (281) 558-1918
PRESS RELEASE
April 29, 2005
Contact: Vrouir Frankian
Tel: (281) 558-1918
TEXAS ARMENIANS MARK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Armenian Americans Expand Activity Across the Lone Star State
HOUSTON, TX – Civic, community, and educational initiatives marking
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were in high gear
throughout the state of Texas this April, with Armenian Americans
securing proclamations from five key cities throughout the Lone
Star state leading up to a rally at the State Capitol on April
23rd, reported the Armenian National Committee of Texas (ANC-TX).
The state capital city of Austin was joined in marking the Genocide
by San Antonio, College Station, Galveston and Houston. Local
activists in each city, working as part of the Texas Joint
Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
approached the Mayors and City Councils, raising awareness about
this crime against humanity. The texts of the resolutions are
provided below.
“The Texas Joint Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide did an excellent job, motivating our community, educating
elected officials, and strengthening the advocacy capabilities of
the growing Texas Armenian community,” said ANC-TX spokesperson
Vatche Hovsepian. “We look forward to expanding our outreach in
support of national legislation on the Armenian Genocide and the
full range of issues of concerns to the Texas Armenian community.”
On April 23rd, over 400 Armenian Americans from throughout the
state, carrying Armenian and American flag, and banners calling for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, arrived at the State Capitol
for a special 90th anniversary Genocide Observance. The event was
featured prominently in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper and
covered on several local television news channels.
The Texas Joint Committee worked closely with the Texas Senate to
secure adoption of a resolution marking the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. While the Senate did recognize April 24 2005 as
“Armenian Martyrs Day,” the Texas Armenian community was
disappointed that the resolution fell short of properly
commemorating the Armenian Genocide as “genocide.” Efforts toward
an improved resolution have already begun for the next legislative
session.
Further away in El Paso, local activist Greg Yakoobian arranged for
a billboard on busy Interstate 10 calling for recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Some 150,000 commuters see the red-blue-orange
background billboard daily, which reads “Turkey: 1,500,000 victims
say you MUST recognize the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, April 24, 1915”
Earlier in the year, the ANC of Texas worked extensively with the
Holocaust Museum of Houston to arrange “The Forgotten Genocide
Exhibit,” featured at the museum from March 29 – May 31, 2005. The
exhibit is part of a unified international effort to commemorate
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and unite with
genocide survivors of all races and ethnicities. It includes a
newly created portrait, by artist Bob Schiffhaur of the German-
Jewish writer Frantz Werfel to accompany an early German edition of
his novel “Forty Days of Musa Dagh” based on the factual resistance
to the Genocide. Also there are artifacts, relics and shards of the
past that have these long 90 years preserved memories: a Bible, an
ancient rolled script, a hand-woven tablecloth and other items that
were part of daily life before the Genocide. From after the
Genocide there are postage stamps of the Near East Foundation to
help the orphans, children’s artwork to fund orphanages, survivors
handwritten notes from the 1930’s and 1950’s about their forever
lost villages.
A selection of the 1996 Glendale, CA based “Genocide Project”
contains some of the remaining survivors photographs and first hand
accounts. These are split images of faces and fingers. The
photographer Oshagan said “We wanted the discontinuity of the
killings, how their first life was stripped from them and a second
forced upon them, to show up in (these) sliced images.”
In addition to the exhibit, the Holocaust Museum of Houston will
also be hosting a lecture by William Parsons, Chief of Staff of the
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on May 26th at 6:30pm. Admission is
open to the public.
#####
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Text of San Antonio, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
————————————
City of San Antonio
Proclamation
WHEREAS, On April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; and
WHEREAS, During the First World War, the Turkish Empire massacred
approximately 2.5 million men, women and children of the Armenian
population in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and
WHEREAS, Although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to
all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and
unity, while passing along to each generation knowledge about their
language, history and culture; and
WHEREAS, The City of San Antonio joins in this observance, and
urges all citizen to commemorate this tragic event in world
history, and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty
and justice for all.
NOW, Therefore, I, Edward D. Garza, Mayor of the City of San
Antonio, in recognition thereof, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2005
to be
“Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day”
In San Antonio, Texas.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal of the City of San Antonio to be
affixed this 21st day April, 2005.
————————————
Text of Austin, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
————————————
PROCLAMAT ION
Be it known that
Whereas,
Between 1915 and 1923, prior to the establishment of the Republic
of Turkey, more than a million people of Armenian ancestry were
victims of a genocide perpetrated by the governments of the Ottoman
Empire; and,
Whereas,
We join with the Armenian-American citizen of Central Texas in
opposing such atrocities; and,
Whereas,
We, Likewise, join with the Armenian Community of Austin in
honoring the memory of these victims at ceremonies being held here
today;
Now, Therefore,
I, Will Wynn, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas,
Do hereby proclaim
April 24, 2005
As
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
In Austin.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the City
of Austin to be affixed this 19th Day
of April in the Year Two Thousand Five
————————————
Text of College Station, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
————————————
Proclamation
Office of the Mayor, City of College Station
Whereas, On April 24, 2005, Armenians around the
world will commemorate the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide;
And
Whereas, during the First World War, the Turkish
Empire in an effort of general extermination
and elimination of all traces of a thriving
and noble civilization over 3,000 years old,
massacred approximately 1.5 million Armenian
men, women, and children in the twentieth
century’s first genocide; and
Whereas, although the survivors of this massacre were
scattered to all parts of the world, they
have maintained their identity and unity
through their church, passing along to each
generation not only a strong Christian faith
but a knowledge of their language, history
and culture; and
Whereas, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people
inspire and challenge us to cherish and
preserve the freedom that is ours;
And
Now Therefore, I, Ron Silvia, Mayor of the City of College
Station, Texas, and acting on behalf of the
City Council do hereby proclaim April 24,
2005, as
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
In College Station, Texas
————————————
Text of Houston, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
————————————
Armenian Martyrs Day
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, Armenians around the world will
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during
the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general
extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble
civilization over 3,000 years old; of the Armenian population in
Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and
children in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and
WHEREAS, although the survivors of this massacre were scattered to
all parts of the world, they have maintained their identity and
unity through their church, passing along to each generation not
only a strong Christian faith but a knowledge of their language,
history and culture; and
WHEREAS, the survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove
them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as
Armenian Martyr’s Day; and
WHEREAS, the heroic struggles of the Armenian people inspire and
challenge us to cherish and preserve the freedom that is ours; and
WHEREAS, on April 24, 2005, City of Houston residents will be
called together to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915; and
WHEREAS, this commemoration will serve as an appropriate time for
the people of the City of Houston and others to remember the 1.5
million Armenian men, women and children who lost their lives; and
Therefore, I, Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston, hereby
proclaim April 24, 2005, as
Armenian Martyrs Day
In Houston, Texas.
————————————
Text of Galveston, TX Proclamation
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
————————————
PROCLAMATIO N
We the Mayor and City Council, by virtue of the authority vested by
the City of Galveston, Texas, do proclaim
April 24, 2005
as
ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY
in the City of Galveston
WHEREAS, City of Galveston and Armavir region in Armenia have been
sister cites since September 2001 through the University of Texas
Medical Branch healthcare and disaster preparedness collaboration
funded by AIHA-USAID; and
WHEREAS, On April 24th, 2005 Armenians around the world will
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; during
the First World War, the Turkish Empire in an effort of general
extermination and elimination of all traces of a thriving and noble
civilization over 3,000 years old; of the Armenian population in
Eastern Turkey, massacred approximately 1.5 million men, women, and
children in the twentieth century’s first genocides; and
WHEREAS, The survivors and descendents of this genocide which drove
them from their homeland, recall and commemorate April 24, 1915 as
Armenian Martyr’s Day, and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council for the
City of Galveston, Texas does urge each and every citizen to join
our sister city and commemorate this tragic event in world history
and to strengthen our commitment to the cause of liberty and
justice in this and all other nations of the world.
In testimony whereof, witness my hand and Seal of the City of
Galveston, this 24th day of February 2005.