HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-06-1999 - 5eORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. ~~
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: Apri16, 1999
SUBJECT: Proclamation for Armenian Martyrs Day, Apri124, 1999
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Nt-
BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/N) NQ
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Annette M. Moore
TELEPHONE NUMBERS: - -ext. 2250
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 227-2031
PURPOSE: To recognize and celebrate ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY.
BACKGROUND: Armenians have traditionally designated April 24 as ARMENIAN
MARTYRS DAY, in recognition and remembrance of those who died during the Armenian
genocide between 1915-1923. The Human Relations Commission has historically called
upon the Orange County Board of Commissioners to officially proclaim April 24 as
ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY and does so again this year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the
proposed proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it.
PROCLAMATION
for
ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY
WHEREAS, between 1915-1923, the extermination of more than one and one-half
million Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians took
place by the Ottoman Turks; and
WHEREAS, during this atrocity, Armenians were forced to witness the slaughter of
their relatives and the loss of their ancestral homelands; and
WHEREAS, Armenians assert that the government of modern-day Turkey refuses
to recognize the facts. of the genocide; and
WHEREAS, the denial of the Armenian genocide by the present-day Turkish
government serves to taint history and disavows Armenians of the
right to their homeland and heritage; and
WHEREAS, ancestral Armenian lands taken by the Ottoman Turks have not been
returned to the Armenian people, nor have the Armenians received
compensation for their losses; and
WHEREAS, Armenians have traditionally designated Apri124th as ARMENIAN
MARTYRS DAY, in recognition and remembrance of those who died
during the Armenian genocide; and
WHEREAS, it is important to remember history so that mistakes of the past are
not repeated in future generations;
NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Commissioners of Orange County, proclaim April 24,
1999 as ARMENIAN MARTYRS DAY and commend this observance to all Orange
County citizens.
This the 6th day of April, 1999.
l~C.,C.~-mac.
Alice M. Gordon, Chair
Board of Commissioners