Day of Remembrance for Pontian Genocide Victims

AHEPA Calls for "Day of Remembrance" for the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor

Related Articles

Smyrna Commemorative Series

In Commemoration of Asia Minor

An Unforgettable Story of Survival

Governor Pataki Issues Proclamation

WASHINGTON- Supreme President Dr. James F. Dimitriou has requested all chapters to observe a "Day of Remembrance" on Monday, May 19, 2003, for the victims of the early 20th century genocide in Asia Minor that devastated the Pontian Greek community.

"Many of our members are descendants of survivors of the once great community of Greeks from Constantinople, Smyrna, and all of Asia Minor, including myself," said Supreme President Dr. Dimitriou, whose parents and grandparents were refugees from the Island of Marmara and from Constantinople. "It is our obligation to remember a tragic part of our Hellenic history out of respect for the people who suffered and were sacrificed. A centuries old civilization was extinguished. Our unfortunate ancestors were given a choice of 'Islam, tribute or the sword' by their Ottoman overlords. The fortunate ones escaped or became part of the League of Nations sponsored population exchange in 1922."

According to the supreme president, it is estimated that 300,000 Pontian Greeks perished at the hands of the Ottoman Turks during a period between 1914 and 1922 that coincided with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. In addition to the Greeks of Pontus and Asia Minor, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, and thousands of Assyrians also fell victim to the catastrophe.

"It is our obligation to remember a tragic part of our Hellenic history out of respect for the people who suffered and were sacrificed. A centuries old civilization was extinguished," said AHEPA Supreme President Dr. James F. Dimitriou

"AHEPA is an organization founded in response to the evils of bigotry and racism of early 20th century American society that targeted immigrants of many ethnicities, especially in the South," said Executive Director Basil N. Mossaidis, whose grandparents fled Asia Minor in 1922 and 1923 to escape the atrocities of the time. "Obviously, genocide is a product of these ills of society. The absence of the basic principles of human rights and civil liberties for my family's descendants as well as for our immigrant forbearers must never be forgotten."

Moreover, Dr. Dimitriou encourages the Greek-American community to contact members of Congress in support of House Resolution 193, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the Genocide Convention. The legislation cites the Armenian Genocide and calls upon the U.S. to learn from the lessons of past genocides to prevent future ones. H.Res.193, introduced by U.S. Rep. George P. Radanovich (R-19-CA) currently has 100 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.

AHEPA is the largest and oldest Greek-American association in the world with 526 chapters chartered in the United States, Canada, Greece, and Cyprus, and sister chapters in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by visionary Greek-Americans to protect Greek immigrants from prejudice originating from the KKK, and in its history, AHEPA has joined with the NAACP and B'nai B'rith to fight discrimination. Moreover, it was founded to help Greek immigrants assimilate into American society by fostering good citizenship and civic responsibility.

The mission of the AHEPA family is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence. The AHEPA family consists of four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.

For more information about the AHEPA family, or how to join, please contact AHEPA Headquarters, 202.232.6300, or visit www.ahepa.org/joinahepa. For instant information visit www.ahepa.org

(Posted May 2003)