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FLARMENIANS.COM
PRESS RELEASE
May 6, 2011
Contact: Administrator
Email: [email protected]
SOUTH FLORIDA ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES 96TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Boca Raton, FL - Last week, hundreds of members, friends and human rights
activists from the South Florida Armenian American community commemorated
the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Florida Atlantic University
(FAU).
This year's observance culminated the month long display of the 21-panel
Armenian Genocide exhibition on loan to FAU Libraries from the Florida
Holocaust Memorial Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The exhibition
displayed the systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
during World War I. The panels showcased photographs, quotes from witnesses
and the history and legacy of the genocide.
"It was truly inspirational to see South Florida Armenians from three
generations come together to honor their fallen ancestors of the 1915
Armenian Genocide,' stated Arsine Kaloustian-Rosenthal, Florida Armenians
Public Affairs Director. `The importance of remembering, sharing of stories
between families, and of course the FAU exhibit itself, stands in the face
of genocide denial and advances the cause of genocide prevention,' stated
Kaloustian-Rosenthal.
Armenians around the world commemorate the genocide on April 24, when in
1915 Ottoman Turkish authorities rounded up, arrested and murdered over 200
Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey. Over 1.5
million Armenian men, women and children perished in 1915-1923 in what
historians recognize as the Armenian Genocide.
Dr. Mary Johnson, Senior Historian with Facing History & Ourselves, and
curator of the Armenian Genocide exhibit, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Dr. Johnson opened the program with special thanks to Dr. Rose Gatens,
Director of the FAU Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education. Dr.
Johnson spoke about her experiences teaching the Armenian Genocide and the
consequences of its denial.
`The response of the Armenian community to the exhibition on the Armenian
Genocide at Florida Atlantic University was incredible,' Dr. Johnson told
FLArmenians.com. `Visitors not only examined the panels and the narrative of
the history but talked about the exhibition and its implications for today
-
this ensures that the historical event will be remembered and future
generations will continue to tell the story,' concluded Dr. Johnson.
On behalf of St. David Armenian Church, Garen Kalender, Rita Vartanian and
Kaliana Maronian presented traditional Armenian poetry. Mr. Albert Mazmanian
offered remarks while his daughter Natalie recited her self composed poetry.
A musical interlude was offered by local talents from St. Mary's Armenian
Church, Sage McBride (violin) and Marineh Alikhnyn (piano) who performed the
famous Armenian composition Groung by Komitas. A short screening from the
upcoming film `Orphans of The Genocide' was also presented by south Florida
film producers Bared Maronian, Bedo Der-Bedrosian and Paul Andonian.
`Having the commemoration program and exhibition at FAU Library was a
wonderful opportunity to teach others about the origins and the history of
the Armenian Genocide, a major crime against humanity committed by Ottoman
Turks at the dawn of the 20th Century,' stated V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian.
`We pray that the time will come when justice will be served and Turkey will
acknowledge its history,' stated Fr. Berberian.
V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian of St. David Armenian Church and Rev. Fr. Vartan
Joulfayan of St. Mary Armenian Church offered the memorial service for the
victims of the Armenian genocide. The South Florida Armenian Genocide
Commemoration was held under the auspices of St. David Armenian Church of
Boca Raton, St. Mary Armenian Church of Hollywood, the Armenian Assembly of
America, the Armenian National Committee and the Knights of Vartan.
###
PR: 2011-001
Photo Caption (L-R): Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfayan, Dr. Mary Johnson, Dr. Rose
Gatens, V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian
From: A. Papazian
PRESS RELEASE
May 6, 2011
Contact: Administrator
Email: [email protected]
SOUTH FLORIDA ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES 96TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Boca Raton, FL - Last week, hundreds of members, friends and human rights
activists from the South Florida Armenian American community commemorated
the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Florida Atlantic University
(FAU).
This year's observance culminated the month long display of the 21-panel
Armenian Genocide exhibition on loan to FAU Libraries from the Florida
Holocaust Memorial Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The exhibition
displayed the systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
during World War I. The panels showcased photographs, quotes from witnesses
and the history and legacy of the genocide.
"It was truly inspirational to see South Florida Armenians from three
generations come together to honor their fallen ancestors of the 1915
Armenian Genocide,' stated Arsine Kaloustian-Rosenthal, Florida Armenians
Public Affairs Director. `The importance of remembering, sharing of stories
between families, and of course the FAU exhibit itself, stands in the face
of genocide denial and advances the cause of genocide prevention,' stated
Kaloustian-Rosenthal.
Armenians around the world commemorate the genocide on April 24, when in
1915 Ottoman Turkish authorities rounded up, arrested and murdered over 200
Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey. Over 1.5
million Armenian men, women and children perished in 1915-1923 in what
historians recognize as the Armenian Genocide.
Dr. Mary Johnson, Senior Historian with Facing History & Ourselves, and
curator of the Armenian Genocide exhibit, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Dr. Johnson opened the program with special thanks to Dr. Rose Gatens,
Director of the FAU Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education. Dr.
Johnson spoke about her experiences teaching the Armenian Genocide and the
consequences of its denial.
`The response of the Armenian community to the exhibition on the Armenian
Genocide at Florida Atlantic University was incredible,' Dr. Johnson told
FLArmenians.com. `Visitors not only examined the panels and the narrative of
the history but talked about the exhibition and its implications for today
-
this ensures that the historical event will be remembered and future
generations will continue to tell the story,' concluded Dr. Johnson.
On behalf of St. David Armenian Church, Garen Kalender, Rita Vartanian and
Kaliana Maronian presented traditional Armenian poetry. Mr. Albert Mazmanian
offered remarks while his daughter Natalie recited her self composed poetry.
A musical interlude was offered by local talents from St. Mary's Armenian
Church, Sage McBride (violin) and Marineh Alikhnyn (piano) who performed the
famous Armenian composition Groung by Komitas. A short screening from the
upcoming film `Orphans of The Genocide' was also presented by south Florida
film producers Bared Maronian, Bedo Der-Bedrosian and Paul Andonian.
`Having the commemoration program and exhibition at FAU Library was a
wonderful opportunity to teach others about the origins and the history of
the Armenian Genocide, a major crime against humanity committed by Ottoman
Turks at the dawn of the 20th Century,' stated V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian.
`We pray that the time will come when justice will be served and Turkey will
acknowledge its history,' stated Fr. Berberian.
V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian of St. David Armenian Church and Rev. Fr. Vartan
Joulfayan of St. Mary Armenian Church offered the memorial service for the
victims of the Armenian genocide. The South Florida Armenian Genocide
Commemoration was held under the auspices of St. David Armenian Church of
Boca Raton, St. Mary Armenian Church of Hollywood, the Armenian Assembly of
America, the Armenian National Committee and the Knights of Vartan.
###
PR: 2011-001
Photo Caption (L-R): Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfayan, Dr. Mary Johnson, Dr. Rose
Gatens, V. Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian
From: A. Papazian