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About: |
The
Assyrian American National Federation strives to unite the Assyrian
Nation by protecting and promoting the progression of Assyrian
culture, education, religion and humanitarian rights.
Established in 1933 by the Assyrian community of the United
States, the Assyrian
American National Federation, Inc. (AANF) is a Federation of
Assyrian Associations in the United States.
AANF
is a 501C-3 Not-For-Profit Organization and member of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance.
 Historically,
the Federation, as the Assyrian National Federation, had its birth in the
fateful year of 1933, and was inspired by the
merciless massacres
of the Assyrians in Iraq. On October 19, 1933, the National Emergency
Committee called a General Mass Meeting at West New York, New Jersey, where by
resolution, the Committee was authorized to call a General Convention of
Delegates to be held in Yonkers, New York. Accordingly, the convention was
(after two days of deliberation) adjourned to meet again on November 19, 1933,
at New Britain, Connecticut, where the constitution and Bylaws were prepared and
adopted. At this convention, the venerable Captain Alex Ameer of Yonkers
was elected as the first president of the Federation.
The original
associations represented at the first convention were the Assyrian National
Union, Inc., of Massachusetts, the Assyrian National Association of Yonkers, New
York, the Assyrian National Association of Connecticut, the Assyrian Christian
Aid Society of Philadelphia, Pa., the Newark Branch of New Jersey and the
Emergency Committee of West New York, New Jersey.
 In
1936, the Federation adopted its insignia produced on the cover of this book,
symbolic of the purposes and ideals of the Federation, bearing the following
interpretations:
The circular outline of the insignia designates perpetuity, the three stars
along the border represent the three stars on the flag and designate the three
principal component sectional groups of Assyrians. The purple, white and
red colors are the colors of the flag-denoting loyalty, purity and determination
respectively -- the red also being reminiscent of the sacrificial blood shed by
the Assyrian patriots and Christian martyrs. The five-legged-winged lion;
with a bearded man's head, is the ancient Assyrian coat-of-arms; the chain on
which the lion of stands designates unity and the linking of the several
Assyrian factions into one strong bond. The open book represents the
intellectual contributions of the Assyrians to the world; the cross on the
left-hand side of the open book designates the Assyrians as the first ethnic
group of people to embrace Christianity and the first Christians to spread the
Gospel of Christ through their missionaries to the four corners of the earth;
the lighted lamp on the right-hand side of the open book represents the
Assyrians as the Original light of the world in contributing to the civilization
knowledge of the fundamental sciences.
In 1958, the name of the Federation was changed to the Assyrian American
Federation, Inc. and in 1962 the Federation was incorporated in the state of New
York as the Assyrian American Federation, Inc.. Affiliated with the
Assyrian Universal Alliance in 1968. In 1982, the present name of the
Assyrian American National Federation, Inc. was adopted.
Pride and glory in the ancient dignity of our ancestors entail the assumption of
certain obligations towards the remnant of our race, the numerous unrelated and
disconnected associations, no matter how great or useful individually, cannot
fulfill such obligations. The essential nature of the Assyrian American
National Federation, Inc., is to assure functional unity among Assyrian
organizations.
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