The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) posted a series of sixteen YouTube videos of the main speakers at this week's Armenian independence day celebration on Capitol Hill.

The videos can be viewed on the ANCA YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7F77EF78DCFBD35A.

The event, which featured the awarding of Armenia's "Mkhitar Gosh" medals to two long-standing champions of Armenia and the Armenian American concerns - Reps. Howard Berman and Adam Schiff – brought together eighteen U.S. legislators, the Armenian Embassy, the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic friends of Armenia, and Armenian Americans from across the United States.

"We're pleased to share these videos with all our friends across America and around the world who could not join us on Capitol Hill in marking this milestone in Armenia's progress as an independent state," said Aram Hamparian. "Please share these videos with friends, and stay tuned in to the work of the Armenian Cause by following the ANCA on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter."

The celebration was held in the historic hearing room of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, 2172 Rayburn House Office Building. This room has been the setting for many watershed meetings on Armenian issues, including the approval of a series of Armenian Genocide Resolutions and, just this past July 20th, the adoption of the Return of Churches amendment calling on Turkey to restore confiscated Christian religious properties to their rightful owners.

In addition to coverage of each legislator who offered remarks, the videos include the opening and closing prayers, as well as a post-event message from ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.

The October 25 event was organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, in coordination with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and Armenian American organizations.