LANSING–MI–The Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution last week designating April 24 "Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."
Michigan House Resolution 58–passed the House Oversight Committee by a vote of 4 to 18 and later passed the full House.
Representative Marc Shulman–who represents West Bloomfield and Commerce Township–introduced the resolution–which designates April 24 of each year as Michigan Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 1923.
In his remarks Schulman’stated–"Our nation and state should not ignore the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. We wish to be on record as recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1.5 million Armenia’s from 1915 to 1923 and also to pay tribute to the survivors."
"The Armenian National Committee of Michigan and the entire Armenian American community here in the Great Lake state are proud that the Michigan House of Representatives has honored the victims of the Armenian Genocide by commemorating this great tragedy," stated Harry Derderian–spokesman for the Armenian National Committee of Michigan.
Michigan Senator George Zaven Hart introduced a similar resolution in the State Senate. Senate Resolution 395 also designates the period each year beginning on the Sunday before April 24 through the following Sunday as the Days of Remembrance in Michigan–in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and in honor of the survivors. The Senate Resolution is pending in the government operations committee and is due to be acted this week.