LAS VEGAS, NV – The Armenian American community of the Greater Las Vegas Area will commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 on Sunday, April 23, 2006 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Las Vegas.

“The Armenian Genocide – the first genocide of the twentieth century – was a systematic, premeditated extermination of over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children beginning on April 24, 1915,” stated Hriyr Dadaian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Las Vegas. “We honor the memory of the victims of this crime against humanity every year to remind the world of the lessons of what happened to prevent future genocides from taking place.”

Joining the Las Vegas Armenian American community in commemorating the Armenian Genocide will be Senator John Ensign (R-NV), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV-1), Congressman Jim Gibbons (NV-2), Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, among other distinguished guests. The Armenian Apostolic Churches of the Western Prelacy and Diocese, the Armenian Evangelical Church – Las Vegas, the Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas, the Armenian National Committee of Las Vegas, the Armenian Relief Society – Las Vegas Shoushi Chapter, the Homenetmen – Las Vegas Artsakh Chapter, and the UNLV Armenian Students Association will be participating in the commemoration. Armenian National Committee of America Board Member Raffi Hamparian will be the keynote speaker of the commemoration.

The official program will begin at 1:30 pm on Sunday, April 23, 2006 at the Christ Lutheran Church located at 111 North Torrey Pines Drive in Las Vegas. Requiem services will be conducted by clergy from the Armenian Apostolic Churches of the Western Prelacy and Diocese and the Armenian Evangelical Church of Las Vegas.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.