PRESS RELEASE
Armenian American Cultural Society of Las Vegas
P. O. Box 94406, Las Vegas, NV
Contact: Andy Armenian
Tel: 702 580 0807
Fax: 702 456 8849
E-mail: [email protected]
NEVADA ARMENIANS HONOR CONGRESSWOMAN BERKLEY DURING 93RD GENOCIDE
COMMEMORATION
Las Vegas, Nevada – April 20: During the commemoration of the 93rd
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Las Vegas Armenian community
honored Congresswoman Shelly Berkley with a plaque for her relentless
efforts for congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The
packed audience at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) applauded
Congresswoman Berkley’s strong position on the issue. After accepting the
plaque from the event chair, Hriyr John Dadaian, Congresswoman Berkley
noted, "as a Jew, it is a shame to deny somebody else’s genocide and that it
is why I cannot deny what happened to the Armenians and I will continue to
support recognition."
The commemoration also featured as keynote speaker Mr. Armen Liloyan, Consul
General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, on his first official
visit to Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Liloyan spoke passionately about the need
for the current Turkish government to recognize the Genocide of the previous
Ottoman Empire and to come to terms with its past so that the regional
neighbors may move toward a prosperous future.
Additionally, staff members representing Senator Reid, Senator Ensign,
Congressman Porter, and Congressman Heller delivered strong statements
joining the community’s commemoration and recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Adroushan Andy Armenian, Treasurer of the Armenian-American Cultural
Society of Las Vegas and Board Member of the Genocide Memorial Committee,
presented plans to erect a Monument at a dedicated Memorial Park in Las
Vegas. The UNLV Armenian Students Association presented a slide show
depicting various Genocide Monuments throughout the world. Mr. Armenian
also noted several recent donations and pledges for the project.
Congresswoman Berkley also pledged her personal donation for the memorial.
"With support from our elected officials and representatives of the Armenian
Republic, the Las Vegas Armenian-American community recommitted itself to
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, so that we can work to
prevent similar human rights tragedies from recurring," stated Hriyr John
Dadaian in closing the program.
Participants for the commemoration also included the Armenian Relief Society
"Shoushi" Chapter Saturday School students; the Homenetmen "Artsakh" Chapter
Scouts; the Armenian Evangelical Church Choir; Herman Brumm performing
violin and piano solos.