Tweet
CICILLINE, HOUSE MEMBERS CELEBRATE WHITE HOUSE DISPLAY OF ARMENIAN ORPHAN RUG
Congressional Documents and Publications
November 18, 2014
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) News Release
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DOCUMENTS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) today
spoke at the opening of the Armenian Orphan Rug display, which will be
showcased at the White House Visitor's Center today through November
23rd. Last year, Cicilline and 31 of his House colleagues sent a
letter urging President Obama to release the Armenian Orphan Rug for
public exhibition. The following are Cicilline's remarks as prepared
for delivery:
"I want to thank Congressman Schiff, Valadao and all my colleagues
for their incredible efforts to display the Armenian Orphan Rug at
the White House. I also want to thank the Armenian-American community
leaders who made this display possible.
"Rhode Island is home to a vibrant community of Armenian-Americans.
I've seen firsthand the significant contributions this community
has made to our state in business, culture, academia, government,
and the arts, and I want to express my deep gratitude to all the
Armenian-Americans who live across our country.
"Today we celebrate the display of the Armenian Orphan Rug at the
White House Visitor Center. This great artifact is both a symbol
of the strong relationship between Armenia and the U.S. and a stark
reminder about the first genocide of the modern era where 1.5 million
Armenians perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.
"In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge was presented with a hand woven
rug by orphans survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The Ghazir rug,
commonly known as the Armenian Orphan Rug, represented a token of
appreciation for the generosity of the United States toward survivors
and orphans of this genocide.
"Last year, it was reported that the White House would not allow the
rug to be loaned to Smithsonian Institution to be displayed for a
public event. In November of 2013, my colleagues and I joined together
and urged President Obama to allow the rug to be displayed publicly,
as it is an essential part of American and Armenian history. Together
with leaders in the American-Armenian community we successfully worked
with the White House to make sure the rug and its historical meaning
were shared with the country.
"As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congressional
Armenian Caucus, I had the opportunity to travel to Armenia earlier
this year where I observed the annual Remembrance Day Event to
commemorate the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
"The United States has a responsibility to condemn acts of religious
intolerance and to protect and promote human rights across the globe.
My experience in Armenia served as an important reminder that we must
do more to honor the survivors and their families and to ensure a
tragedy such as the Armenian Genocide never occurs again. Today we
have made a small, but important step toward honoring their memories.
"There is still more work to be done. In the past year, I have
supported appropriations requests for aid to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. I voted to pass the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability
Act to return church properties to their rightful owners and protect
religious minority groups from unfair discrimination. And, I've fought
to ensure the U.S. recognizes the Armenian Genocide.
"As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I will continue
to fight to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Armenia.
"Today I am proud to stand with all of you to celebrate this great
achievement and to remember all the lives lost during the horrific
Armenian Genocide.
"Thank you."
Read this original document at:
http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-house-members-celebrate-white-house-display-armenian-orphan-rug
Congressional Documents and Publications
November 18, 2014
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) News Release
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DOCUMENTS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) today
spoke at the opening of the Armenian Orphan Rug display, which will be
showcased at the White House Visitor's Center today through November
23rd. Last year, Cicilline and 31 of his House colleagues sent a
letter urging President Obama to release the Armenian Orphan Rug for
public exhibition. The following are Cicilline's remarks as prepared
for delivery:
"I want to thank Congressman Schiff, Valadao and all my colleagues
for their incredible efforts to display the Armenian Orphan Rug at
the White House. I also want to thank the Armenian-American community
leaders who made this display possible.
"Rhode Island is home to a vibrant community of Armenian-Americans.
I've seen firsthand the significant contributions this community
has made to our state in business, culture, academia, government,
and the arts, and I want to express my deep gratitude to all the
Armenian-Americans who live across our country.
"Today we celebrate the display of the Armenian Orphan Rug at the
White House Visitor Center. This great artifact is both a symbol
of the strong relationship between Armenia and the U.S. and a stark
reminder about the first genocide of the modern era where 1.5 million
Armenians perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.
"In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge was presented with a hand woven
rug by orphans survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The Ghazir rug,
commonly known as the Armenian Orphan Rug, represented a token of
appreciation for the generosity of the United States toward survivors
and orphans of this genocide.
"Last year, it was reported that the White House would not allow the
rug to be loaned to Smithsonian Institution to be displayed for a
public event. In November of 2013, my colleagues and I joined together
and urged President Obama to allow the rug to be displayed publicly,
as it is an essential part of American and Armenian history. Together
with leaders in the American-Armenian community we successfully worked
with the White House to make sure the rug and its historical meaning
were shared with the country.
"As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congressional
Armenian Caucus, I had the opportunity to travel to Armenia earlier
this year where I observed the annual Remembrance Day Event to
commemorate the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.
"The United States has a responsibility to condemn acts of religious
intolerance and to protect and promote human rights across the globe.
My experience in Armenia served as an important reminder that we must
do more to honor the survivors and their families and to ensure a
tragedy such as the Armenian Genocide never occurs again. Today we
have made a small, but important step toward honoring their memories.
"There is still more work to be done. In the past year, I have
supported appropriations requests for aid to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. I voted to pass the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability
Act to return church properties to their rightful owners and protect
religious minority groups from unfair discrimination. And, I've fought
to ensure the U.S. recognizes the Armenian Genocide.
"As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I will continue
to fight to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Armenia.
"Today I am proud to stand with all of you to celebrate this great
achievement and to remember all the lives lost during the horrific
Armenian Genocide.
"Thank you."
Read this original document at:
http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/cicilline-house-members-celebrate-white-house-display-armenian-orphan-rug