[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4422]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR 6754

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2004

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Assyrian 
New Year 6754 and extend my warm wishes to the Assyrian community; Kha 
B'Nissan. The Bet-Nahrain, an Assyrian organization in Ceres, 
California, will be honoring this day on March 21 through their 
numerous broadcasts which are viewed worldwide through satellite and 
internet.
  The celebration of the Assyrian New Year is the oldest of all 
holidays. It was first observed in ancient Assyria about 4,000 years 
ago. In the years surrounding 2000 B.C., the Assyrian New Year began 
with the first New Moon after the Vernal Equinox, which is the first 
day of spring, March 21. According to Assyrian belief, the beginning of 
spring is the logical time to start the New Year because it is the 
season of rebirth, planting of new crops, and blossoming of trees and 
flowers. The Assyrian New Year typically lasts for 12 days, with each 
day having a particular theme for celebration.
  The Assyrian population has made countless contributions to our 
community, and the Bet-Nahrain is an organization that attests and 
attributes to that fact. Bet-Nahrain is an Assyrian educational and 
cultural organization dedicated to the national aspirations and well- 
being of the Assyrian people. In December of 1975, it was incorporated 
under the State laws of California as a nonprofit education and public 
benefit organization. Bet-Nahrain established and inaugurated the 
world's first ever Assyrian radio station, KBES 89.5 FM in 1979, and 
KBSV TV 23, the world's first Assyrian television broadcasting station, 
in Ceres in 1996. Their intent is to use their technology to reach 
millions of people, Assyrian and non-Assyrian, with their message and 
information.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the Assyrian New Year 
6754 and extend my best to the Bet-Nahrain and the Assyrian community. 
I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Assyrian community many 
years of continued success.

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