On the eve of President Biden’s expected recognition of the #ArmenianGenocide, there is one man who is owed a debt by Armenians and Americans alike. In 2005, the U.S. Ambassador to Yerevan was John Marshall Evans, @EvansinAmerica. A career diplomat, Evans had served the 1/

State Dept. and the United States in several capacities and postings throughout Eastern Europe and, notably, in Iran just prior to the 1979 revolution. Nominated by President George W. Bush, and confirmed by the Senate, Evans began his tenure as Ambassador to Armenia in 2004. 2/

In 2005, Ambassador Evans used the word “genocide” to describe the atrocities, massacres, and deportations of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923. Needless to say, the State Department was not pleased, the Embassy in Yerevan was compelled to retract his use of the term 3/

and issue not one - but two - “corrections”, and in 2006, Mr. Bush dismissed Ambassador Evans from his position and recalled him to Washington. Ambassador Evans - his diplomatic career prematurely ended - was granted the award for “Constructive Dissent” by the American Foreign 4/

Service Association. Adding insult to injury, the award was subsequently withdrawn from the AFSA for ignominious reasons. John’s courage, integrity, and truthful expression of historical facts was unprecedented at the time. No one in a position of leadership in the U.S. Govt. 5/

had used the word “genocide” to describe the events of WWI since 1981. John’s recognition provided solace and consolation to survivors and their families, and became a catalyst for countless Americans to further explore and learn about the fate of the Armenians in the final 6/

days of the Ottoman Empire. John continues to speak on issues vital to American Foreign Policy, and especially, the long term effects the mandated denial of the Armenian Genocide has had on the United States, Turkey and the region. So, John, I don’t know if you’ll be getting 7/

a phone call from @POTUS or @SecBlinken in the coming few days, but rest assured, your fight was not in vain. You were a man ahead of your time, and I am proud to know you, and honored to call you friend. Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. 8/end