John Dingell: “I rise today to join with my colleagues in commemorating the 79th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This horrible…”

“I rise today to join with my colleagues in commemorating the 79th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This horrible event marked a period in which the Turkish Ottoman Empire conducted a deliberate campaign to systematically eliminate a people and erase a culture dating back over 3,000 years. Beginning on April 24, 1915, with the slaughter of hundreds of Armenian religious, political and intellectual leaders, and lasting until 1923, the Genocide claimed the lives of roughly 1.5 million Armenians. Many others endured immense suffering as they were uprooted and forced to flee their homeland. Approximately 500,000 refugees escaped the horrors of starvation, disease, and massacre. They fled to the north across the Russian border, to neighboring Arab countries, and to Europe and the United States. The vast majority of the Armenians living in the U.S. today are the children and grandchildren of these brave survivors. Through the years, the dynamic community of Armenian Americans living in the U.S. has shown great strength, making invaluable contributions to the richness and diversity of our society. Their exceptional talents and hard work have enriched our culture and enhanced the quality of life we enjoy. Overcoming adversity and loss is clearly a hallmark of the people of Armenia.”