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PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected] www.anca.org
Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian
Telephone: 818.500.1918
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER PROCLAIMS APRIL 24 DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Sacramento, CA - The Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region (ANCA-WR) reported today that newly elected California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an Executive Proclamation designating
Saturday, April 24, 2004, as a "Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide." The language of the proclamation addressed the historical
facts of the Genocide and commended Armenian Americans for retaining
their `distinct heritage,language and religion, and bringing rich
cultural diversity to the Golden State.'
`We are very pleased to have Governor Schwarzenegger proclaim April
24th as a California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide,'
commented ANCA-WR Government Relations Director, Armen Carapetian,
`Designating April 24th as a special day means a great deal to the
children and grandchildren of survivors of the Armenian Genocide and
even the survivors who were able to make it to California and called
this great state their home.'
On Saturday, April 24th, 2004, California State Senator Charles
Poochigian, the legislature's highest ranking Armenian, will present
the proclamation to the ANCA-WR and the Armenian community at a
special ceremony to be held at the Armenian Martyrs Monument in
Montebello, California. The event will begin at 1 P.M. and will
include special messages from Senator John Kerry, Governor
Schwarzenegger in addition to speeches from various other California
State and federal public officials.
--------------------EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT------------------------------
STATE OF CALIFORNIA P R O C L A M A T I O N
by the
Governor of the State of California
On April 24, 1915, in Constantinople, the Ottoman Turkish government
arrested and murdered several hundred Armenian religious, political
and intellectual leaders, beginning a campaign of terror known as the
Armenian Genocide.
From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire executed a systematic
destruction of Armenian culture through the forced exile, imprisonment
and annihilation ofmen, women and children of Armenian descent. More
than 1.5 million Armenians perished, and 500,000 survivors were forced
to leave their ancestral homeland in Turkey. Whole villages were
massacred and many people died of exposure and starvation during
forced death marches in the desert.
Despite this great tragedy, the Armenian people have persevered and
today are striving to build a free and proud nation, based on the
principles of democracy and a free-market economy. California is home
to 700,000 Armenians - the largest Armenian community outside the
Republic of Armenia. Throughout the decades, the Armenian-American
community has contributed to California agriculture, business,
education, public service and the arts. They have retained their
distinct heritage, language and religion, bringing rich cultural
diversity to the Golden State.
On this 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we join with
Armenians around the world to mourn the loss of so many innocent
lives. In remembering this great human tragedy, we rededicate
ourselves to combat injustice, and we honor the triumphant spirit of
the Armenian people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 24, 2004, as a "Day of
Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the twenty-second
day of April 2004.
/s/ Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
#####
Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected] www.anca.org
Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian
Telephone: 818.500.1918
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER PROCLAIMS APRIL 24 DAY OF
REMEMBRANCE FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Sacramento, CA - The Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region (ANCA-WR) reported today that newly elected California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an Executive Proclamation designating
Saturday, April 24, 2004, as a "Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide." The language of the proclamation addressed the historical
facts of the Genocide and commended Armenian Americans for retaining
their `distinct heritage,language and religion, and bringing rich
cultural diversity to the Golden State.'
`We are very pleased to have Governor Schwarzenegger proclaim April
24th as a California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide,'
commented ANCA-WR Government Relations Director, Armen Carapetian,
`Designating April 24th as a special day means a great deal to the
children and grandchildren of survivors of the Armenian Genocide and
even the survivors who were able to make it to California and called
this great state their home.'
On Saturday, April 24th, 2004, California State Senator Charles
Poochigian, the legislature's highest ranking Armenian, will present
the proclamation to the ANCA-WR and the Armenian community at a
special ceremony to be held at the Armenian Martyrs Monument in
Montebello, California. The event will begin at 1 P.M. and will
include special messages from Senator John Kerry, Governor
Schwarzenegger in addition to speeches from various other California
State and federal public officials.
--------------------EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT------------------------------
STATE OF CALIFORNIA P R O C L A M A T I O N
by the
Governor of the State of California
On April 24, 1915, in Constantinople, the Ottoman Turkish government
arrested and murdered several hundred Armenian religious, political
and intellectual leaders, beginning a campaign of terror known as the
Armenian Genocide.
From 1915 to 1923, the Ottoman Empire executed a systematic
destruction of Armenian culture through the forced exile, imprisonment
and annihilation ofmen, women and children of Armenian descent. More
than 1.5 million Armenians perished, and 500,000 survivors were forced
to leave their ancestral homeland in Turkey. Whole villages were
massacred and many people died of exposure and starvation during
forced death marches in the desert.
Despite this great tragedy, the Armenian people have persevered and
today are striving to build a free and proud nation, based on the
principles of democracy and a free-market economy. California is home
to 700,000 Armenians - the largest Armenian community outside the
Republic of Armenia. Throughout the decades, the Armenian-American
community has contributed to California agriculture, business,
education, public service and the arts. They have retained their
distinct heritage, language and religion, bringing rich cultural
diversity to the Golden State.
On this 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we join with
Armenians around the world to mourn the loss of so many innocent
lives. In remembering this great human tragedy, we rededicate
ourselves to combat injustice, and we honor the triumphant spirit of
the Armenian people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 24, 2004, as a "Day of
Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the twenty-second
day of April 2004.
/s/ Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
#####