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ANCA SALUTES AMERICA'S NEAR EAST RELIEF EFFORTS TO AID ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVORS AT CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING
13:59, 16 Jan 2015
The efforts of Near East Relief, the unprecedented American campaign
of international humanitarian assistance which saved and sustained
hundreds of thousands of Armenian Genocide survivors from 1915 -
1930, was spotlighted this week at a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Costa were joined by public policy leaders
and a bipartisan group of Senate and House Congressional staff for
the unique presentation by Maurice Kelechian, a member of the ANCA
Western Region's 'America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near
East Relief,' who has spent decades researching archives around the
world to document this unprecedented American humanitarian aid effort.
Kelechian offered detailed insights into the broad tapestry of U.S.
government, religious, civic and individual participation in support
of Near East Relief - from all 48 states - which raised today's
equivalent of over $2.7 billion to save Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks
and other minorities in the Near East region during and after the
Armenian Genocide. Established by Congressional mandate and supported
by three consecutive U.S. Presidents, the landmark relief campaign
would serve as a model for a host of American international and
humanitarian efforts including The Marshall Plan, Truman's Point-4
program, The US Peace Corps, US Agency for International Development
(USAID), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Now known as
the Near East Foundation, the organization continues its life-saving
work in countries around the world.
"In 1915, when the U.S. Congress created the Near East Relief
organization, the Genocide went from being part of Armenian history
to also being a part of American history," commented Rep. Costa,
whose office helped coordinate the event. "As a longtime advocate,
I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress on a full
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide." Rep. Costa went on to offer
a "heartfelt thank you to the ANCA for its steadfast dedication to
fostering public awareness in support of a united and independent
Armenia."
"It's astounding how few people in this country or anywhere else know
about this organization [Near East Relief] and its history," noted
Congressman Schiff at the conclusion of the presentation. "That's
why I think that this 'America We Thank You' effort is so pivotal,
because it is a wonderful way to help educate the public about the
Armenian Genocide through the prism of American relief efforts."
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone concurred, noting,
"It's a fact that the United States Government has been very much out
front on Armenian Genocide recognition in the past. So it's important
to talk about the history in the context of this era, when our foreign
policy, and policy in general, was much more oriented towards what
was right, what was justice, what was humane."
"The incredible outpouring of assistance through Near East Relief -
and the U.S. Government's lead role in that effort - should be a
point of pride for all Americans, and a reminder of an era when our
Armenian Genocide policy reflected our collective morality," said ANCA
Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian. "This centennial year,
America can once again become a beacon of truth and justice on this
key human rights issue, by speaking clearly and unequivocally about
the Armenian Genocide, as we expand international efforts to secure
justice for this crime."
Kelechian and Nahapetian joined 'America We Thank You' Co-Chairs
Vanna Kitsinian, Esq. and Hermineh Pakhanians for a series of over 10
Congressional meetings regarding Near East Relief efforts, timed just
100-days prior to the international commemoration of the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. Each Congressional office
received an in-depth fact sheet about the heroic efforts of their
state, as reported in local newspapers and archives, to assist in
this unique campaign.
"The response to the NER story has been remarkable," commented
Kitsinian, following her meetings. "Many Members of Congress and
staff have read about the Armenian Genocide but none of them knew
the details and depth of their own community's participation in this
relief effort. For 15 consecutive years, America was dedicated to the
mission of saving the Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and others - and
when we present the Congressional letters and share how every aspect of
society was mobilized - from celebrities to politicians to Presidents
to ambassadors - they are truly amazed," concluded Kitsinian.
The ANCA Western Region launched the "America We Thank You: An Armenian
Tribute to Near East Relief" campaign in March, 2014, to recognize
the outpouring of generosity by the American people in the immediate
aftermath of the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) and to highlight the
efforts of Near East Relief in rescuing and providing assistance to
hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who were victims of
the Genocide.
In 2015, the committee will mark the centennial of the Near East
Relief efforts through various events and programs to express its
gratitude to the American people for establishing and continuing the
tradition of being the most generous nation.
"The 'America We Thank You' effort is a labor of love for our committee
members, who are constantly finding new and innovative ways to share
the Near East Relief story with the Armenian community and the American
public at large," said Pakhanians. "Whether presenting to students in
their classrooms or meeting with legislators in Washington, DC and
state capitols - our education mission will continue, in tribute to
the NER visionaries who saved our nation."
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/16/anca-salutes-americas-near-east-relief-efforts-to-aid-armenian-genocide-survivors-at-capitol-hill-briefing/
13:59, 16 Jan 2015
The efforts of Near East Relief, the unprecedented American campaign
of international humanitarian assistance which saved and sustained
hundreds of thousands of Armenian Genocide survivors from 1915 -
1930, was spotlighted this week at a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Costa were joined by public policy leaders
and a bipartisan group of Senate and House Congressional staff for
the unique presentation by Maurice Kelechian, a member of the ANCA
Western Region's 'America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near
East Relief,' who has spent decades researching archives around the
world to document this unprecedented American humanitarian aid effort.
Kelechian offered detailed insights into the broad tapestry of U.S.
government, religious, civic and individual participation in support
of Near East Relief - from all 48 states - which raised today's
equivalent of over $2.7 billion to save Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks
and other minorities in the Near East region during and after the
Armenian Genocide. Established by Congressional mandate and supported
by three consecutive U.S. Presidents, the landmark relief campaign
would serve as a model for a host of American international and
humanitarian efforts including The Marshall Plan, Truman's Point-4
program, The US Peace Corps, US Agency for International Development
(USAID), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Now known as
the Near East Foundation, the organization continues its life-saving
work in countries around the world.
"In 1915, when the U.S. Congress created the Near East Relief
organization, the Genocide went from being part of Armenian history
to also being a part of American history," commented Rep. Costa,
whose office helped coordinate the event. "As a longtime advocate,
I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress on a full
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide." Rep. Costa went on to offer
a "heartfelt thank you to the ANCA for its steadfast dedication to
fostering public awareness in support of a united and independent
Armenia."
"It's astounding how few people in this country or anywhere else know
about this organization [Near East Relief] and its history," noted
Congressman Schiff at the conclusion of the presentation. "That's
why I think that this 'America We Thank You' effort is so pivotal,
because it is a wonderful way to help educate the public about the
Armenian Genocide through the prism of American relief efforts."
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone concurred, noting,
"It's a fact that the United States Government has been very much out
front on Armenian Genocide recognition in the past. So it's important
to talk about the history in the context of this era, when our foreign
policy, and policy in general, was much more oriented towards what
was right, what was justice, what was humane."
"The incredible outpouring of assistance through Near East Relief -
and the U.S. Government's lead role in that effort - should be a
point of pride for all Americans, and a reminder of an era when our
Armenian Genocide policy reflected our collective morality," said ANCA
Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian. "This centennial year,
America can once again become a beacon of truth and justice on this
key human rights issue, by speaking clearly and unequivocally about
the Armenian Genocide, as we expand international efforts to secure
justice for this crime."
Kelechian and Nahapetian joined 'America We Thank You' Co-Chairs
Vanna Kitsinian, Esq. and Hermineh Pakhanians for a series of over 10
Congressional meetings regarding Near East Relief efforts, timed just
100-days prior to the international commemoration of the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015. Each Congressional office
received an in-depth fact sheet about the heroic efforts of their
state, as reported in local newspapers and archives, to assist in
this unique campaign.
"The response to the NER story has been remarkable," commented
Kitsinian, following her meetings. "Many Members of Congress and
staff have read about the Armenian Genocide but none of them knew
the details and depth of their own community's participation in this
relief effort. For 15 consecutive years, America was dedicated to the
mission of saving the Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and others - and
when we present the Congressional letters and share how every aspect of
society was mobilized - from celebrities to politicians to Presidents
to ambassadors - they are truly amazed," concluded Kitsinian.
The ANCA Western Region launched the "America We Thank You: An Armenian
Tribute to Near East Relief" campaign in March, 2014, to recognize
the outpouring of generosity by the American people in the immediate
aftermath of the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) and to highlight the
efforts of Near East Relief in rescuing and providing assistance to
hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who were victims of
the Genocide.
In 2015, the committee will mark the centennial of the Near East
Relief efforts through various events and programs to express its
gratitude to the American people for establishing and continuing the
tradition of being the most generous nation.
"The 'America We Thank You' effort is a labor of love for our committee
members, who are constantly finding new and innovative ways to share
the Near East Relief story with the Armenian community and the American
public at large," said Pakhanians. "Whether presenting to students in
their classrooms or meeting with legislators in Washington, DC and
state capitols - our education mission will continue, in tribute to
the NER visionaries who saved our nation."
http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/01/16/anca-salutes-americas-near-east-relief-efforts-to-aid-armenian-genocide-survivors-at-capitol-hill-briefing/