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Montebello remembers Armenian genocide

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  • Montebello remembers Armenian genocide

    Montebello remembers Armenian genocide
    By Pam Wight Staff Writer

    Pasadena Star-News, CA
    Whittier Daily News, CA
    April 20 2006

    MONTEBELLO - Talking about the 1915 Armenian genocide is not just an
    abstract history lesson for Montebello resident Jack Hadjinian.

    Thirty members of his family were murdered under the rule of the Young
    Turks between the years of 1915 and 1917, when the Turkish government
    killed 1.5 million Armenians. The Young Turks government was part of
    Turkey's multi-century Ottoman Empire, which fell in 1922.

    Hadjinian's grandfather - who was 13 at the time - escaped after
    watching Turkish soldiers murder his father and uncle. His family
    later made their way to Detroit and eventually to Montebello, home
    to one of the largest populations of Armenians outside of Armenia.

    This weekend, Hadjinian will join hundreds of other members of
    Montebello's Armenian diaspora to commemorate the 91st anniversary
    of the genocide. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to appear at
    Sunday's event, although his office had not confirmed the appearance
    as of Wednesday, event organizers said.

    State Sen. Chuck Poochigian will be the keynote speaker, and Sen.

    Jackie Speier will act as master of ceremonies.

    " means so much to me," Hadjinian said. "My grandfather cried every
    year at it. He witnessed the murder of his father and uncle.

    "The Turkish soldiers pulled him out of his house, had him stand on
    his knees and then made him look the other way while they shot his
    father and uncle. My grandfather was 13."
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