April 28, 2008

TEXT OF KENTUCKY PROCLAMATION MARKING THE 93RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Proclamation

By Steven L. Beshear
Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come:

WHEREAS, One and one-half-million Christian Armenian men, women and children were the innocent victims of a brutal genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish Government from 1915-1923; and

WHEREAS, The Armenian genocide has been recognized as an attempt to eliminate all traces of a thriving, ancient civilization over 3,000 years old; and

WHEREAS, Recognition of the ninety-third anniversary of this genocide is paramount to guarding against the repetition of future genocides and educating people across the Commonwealth about the atrocities of these horrific events; and

WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Kentucky have greatly enriched our state through their leadership in various aspects of society;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVEN L. BESHEAR, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim April 24, 2008, as

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE in Kentucky.

DONE AT THE CAPITOL, in the City of Frankfort this 28th day of April, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Eight and in the 216th year of the Commonwealth.

STEVEN L. BESHEAR
GOVERNOR