Maryland Armenian Genocide Recognition

PROCLAMATION BY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
THE STATE OF MARYLAND
April 24, 1987

WHEREAS, The glory and the promise of the State of Maryland and our entire nation has rested in the minds and in the visions of all of our people… and included in this group are our proud citizens of Armenian descent and heritage, and;

WHEREAS, April 24, is a sad day of remembrance for not only those of Armenian ancestry but for all who strive to value and uphold human rights and who oppose genocide… as today marks the 72nd Anniversary of the brutal massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children living in the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and;

WHEREAS, The rights of free conscience and free worship for which the Armenian martyrs died are principles still held most sacred by the Armenian people, and Maryland is honored to join in this solemn and necessary commemoration, and;

WHEREAS, It is also important to remember and pay tribute to a scattered people who, once they found a new home in the United States, have gone on to make significant contributions in our communities in a number of valuable ways… and these immigrants have created records of which all Americans and all Armenian-Americans should truly cherish;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1987 as DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE in Maryland, and do commend this observance to all citizens.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the State of Maryland this 24th Day of April One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-seven

(SIGNED)

William Donald Schaefer Governor

Secretary of State

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND
STATE OF MARYLAND
April 24, 1990

From the Governor of Maryland, William Donald Schaefer

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 75TH ANNIVERSARY DAY

APRIL 24, 1990

WHEREAS, Maryland is a State blessed with citizens who proudly maintain a rich and vibrant ethnic diversity, and who work together in the spirit of friendship and cooperation to positively shape our future… and a shining example of a group of committed individuals who remain very active in our communities are our citizens of Armenian descent and heritage, and;

WHEREAS, April 24th is a sad day of remembrance for not only those of Armenian ancestry, but for all who strive to value and uphold human rights and who oppose genocide… as today marks the 75th Anniversary of the brutal massacre of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children living in the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and;

WHEREAS, The rights of free conscience and free worship for which the Armenians martyrs died are principles still held most sacred by the Armenian people, and Maryland shares in this solemn and necessary commemoration… as it is important that we always remember and pay tribute to a scattered people who, once they found a new home in the United States, have gone on to make significant contributions in a number of valuable ways – and as these immigrants have created records of which Americans and Armenian-Americans alike should truly cherish, and;

WHEREAS, In this time of tremendous growth and introspection for oppressed peoples around the world, Maryland joins with our active Armenian-American community in encouraging harmony and peace for individuals and groups of all backgrounds and beliefs – and in supporting these efforts by respectfully reflecting upon a sobering chapter of human history;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, do hereby proclaim April 24, 1990 as DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – 75th ANNIVERSARY DAY in Maryland, and do commend this observance to all of our citizens.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the State of Maryland, this 24th day of April One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety

(SIGNED)

William Donald Schaefer Governor

UNOFFICIAL COPY OF SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 5
1lr1524
CF 1lr0905

Currie, DeGrange, Della, Exum, Ferguson, Forehand, Green, Harris, Hoffman, Hogan, Hollinger, Hooper, Hughes, Jimeno, Kelley, Lawlah, McFadden, Miller, Mitchell, Neall, Stone, and TeitelbaumBy: Senators Sfikas and Van Hollen, Blount, Colburn, Collins, Conway,

Introduced and read first time: January 17, 2001 Assigned to: Economic and Environmental Affairs
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Senate Joint Resolution concerning

Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

FOR the purpose of remembering the Armenian Genocide; and designating April 24 as “Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923”.

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and;

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide and massacres of the Armenian people represented a deliberate attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old, and;

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses, and;

WHEREAS, To this day revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these horrific events, and;

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian Genocide, and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as national heroes, and;

WHEREAS, Prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939, Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, seeking to dispel fears among his military command regarding the world’s response to his genocidal plans, asked “Who, after all, today speaks of the Armenians?”, and;

WHEREAS, Residents of Maryland are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future, and;

2 UNOFFICIAL COPY OF SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 5

 WHEREAS, Recognition of the 86th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events, and;

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination, and;

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Maryland have greatly enriched our State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the General Assembly of Maryland designates April 24 as “Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923”; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor in the Governor’s annual message on or about April 24 commemorate the Armenian Genocide and commend this observance to all Maryland residents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of Maryland encourages that Maryland public schools develop programs similar to those already established in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, that focus on human rights, with specific attention given to the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Honorable Parris N. Glendening, Governor of Maryland; the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; and the Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Speaker of the House of Delegates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional Delegation: Senators Paul S. Sarbanes and Barbara A. Mikulski, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; and Representatives Wayne T. Gilchrest, Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Benjamin L. Cardin, Albert R. Wynn, Steny Hamilton Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijah E. Cummings, and Constance A. Morella, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Armenian National Committee of Maryland, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20816; and the Armenian Assembly of America, 122 C Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 3
Unofficial Copy
2001 Regular Session
1lr0905
CF 1lr0677

(PRE-FILED)
Requested: November 15, 2000

By: Delegate Hixson

Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2001 Assigned to: Commerce and Government Matters

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION:  A House Joint Resolution concerning

Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

FOR the purpose of remembering the Armenian Genocide; and designating April 24 as “Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923”.

WHEREAS, One and one-half million men, women, and children of Armenian 6 descent were victims of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, and;

WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide and massacres of the Armenian people 9 represented a deliberate attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving and noble civilization over 3,000 years old, and;

WHEREAS, The Armenian people have not received reparations for their losses, and;

WHEREAS, To this day revisionists still inexplicably deny the existence of these 14  horrific events, and;

WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian Genocide, and honors the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as 17 national heroes, and;

WHEREAS, Prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939, Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi dictator, seeking to dispel fears among his military command regarding the 20 world’s response to his genocidal plans, asked “Who, after all, today speaks of the 21 Armenians?”, and;

WHEREAS, Residents of Maryland are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the crimes committed against any culture or people to prevent similar atrocities in the future, and;

WHEREAS, Recognition of the 86th anniversary of this genocide is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of future genocides and educating people about the atrocities connected to these horrific events, and;

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION  

WHEREAS, Armenia is now a free and independent republic, having embraced democracy following nearly 70 years of oppressive Soviet domination, and;

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Maryland have greatly enriched our  State through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government, and the arts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the 7 General Assembly of Maryland designates April 24 as “Maryland Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923“; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor in the Governor’s annual message on or about 10 April 24 commemorate the Armenian Genocide and commend this observance to all 11 Maryland residents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of Maryland encourages that Maryland public schools develop programs similar to those already established in 14 California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, that focus on 15 human rights, with specific attention given to the Armenian Genocide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Honorable Parris N. Glendening, Governor of Maryland; 19 the Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; and 20  the Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Speaker of the House of Delegates; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional Delegation: Senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; 25 and Representatives Wayne T. Gilchrest, Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Benjamin L. Cardin, 26 Albert R. Wynn, Steny Hamilton Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijah E. Cummings, and 27  Constance A. Morella, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of 30 Legislative Services to the Armenian National Committee of Maryland, 4906 Flint 31 Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20816; and the Armenian Assembly of America, 122 C 32  Street, NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C.