[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 50 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2005

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the victims 
of one of history's most terrible tragedies, the Armenian Genocide.
  April 24, 1915 is remembered and solemnly commemorated each year by 
the Armenian community and others throughout the world. On that day, 
Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested 
in Constantinople, taken to the interior of Turkey and murdered. From 
1915 through 1923, Armenians that lived under Ottoman rule were 
systematically deprived of their property, freedom, and dignity. In 
addition, one and a half million Armenians were massacred, with 500,000 
more deported.
  Despite the efforts of some to minimize the scope and deny the 
occurrence, the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact. In my district, 
there is a significant population of Armenian survivors and their 
families that showed heroic courage and a will to survive. Many of the 
survivors of the genocide came to the United States, where they and 
their descendants have contributed to our society in countless ways. 
With faith and courage, generations of Armenians have overcome great 
suffering and proudly preserved their culture, traditions, and religion 
and have told the story of the genocide to an often indifferent world. 
It is through their unforgettable tragedy that we are able to share in 
their history and strong heritage. The history of the Armenian Genocide 
must never be forgotten. As Members of Congress and people of 
conscience, we must work to overcome the indifference and distortions 
of history, and ensure that future generations know what happened.
  Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to imagine an evil more forceful than 
the efforts to systematically wipe out a people and a culture as well 
as individual lives. Denying that genocide took place when there are 
recorded accounts of barbarity and ethnic violence is an injustice. 
This was a tragic event in human history, but by paying tribute to the 
Armenian community we ensure the lessons of the Armenian genocide are 
properly understood and acknowledged. I am pleased my colleagues and I 
have this opportunity to ensure this tragedy is remembered.

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