HAVERHILL, Mass.—Members of the Armenian community turned out in City Hall to observe the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Mayor James Fiorentini signed a proclamation declaring April 24th as Armenian Martyrs’ Day in the city and ordered the Armenian Tricolor to be flown that day in remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who died at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in 1915.
“Remembering tragedies like this one truly helps me appreciate the freedoms that we Americans enjoy,” he said. “While it is sad that such an event occurred, I am glad these wonderful people were able to make it to our nation and bring the gifts of their own culture to add to ours.”
The city proclamation recognizes the immigrants who enriched the American heritage with their culture, education, arts and sciences as well as those who impacted Haverhill over the years.
“This terrible blight on humanity at the hands of the Ottoman Empire serves to remind free people everywhere that peace and freedom from oppression should not be accepted in a casual manner,” Fiorentini added.
“We should all give thanks for the martyrs who have gone before, who gave their lives so that their culture and heritage would survive and become part of the foundation toward a better society.”
The meeting was arranged by Barbara (Sarkisian) Arthur, a city employee. The local newspaper carried a generous account of the event, which was the first of many being conducted throughout Merrimack Valley.
A reception followed in the mayor’s office.
That same week, members of the Armenian Genocide Education Committee of Merrimack Valley turned out at Haverhill High School for a presentation to world history students studying the genocide.
Tom Vartabedian
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