Tweet
BROWNSBERGER HOSTING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION ON FRIDAY
By Charlie Breitrose
Belmont Patch
http://belmont.patch.com/articles/brownsberger-hosting-armenian-genocide-commemoration-on-friday
April 17 2012
Buses from Watertown will take people to the event at the State House
in Boston.
The Bay State's Armenian community will fill the State House on Friday,
April 20 for the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
This year's cermony will take place at 10:30 a.m. The event is both
solemn and celebratory, recognizing the genocide of 1.5 million
Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Turkish government,
as well as honoring survivors and looking forward as Armenian American
descendants commit themselves to preserving their culture and working
for humanitarian projects and awareness, according to a press release
from State Sen. Will Brownsberger's office.
Buses to the State House will leave at 9 a.m. from St. James and St.
Stephen's Church in Watertown. The bus service is donated by the
Knights of Vartan, Ararat Lodge No. 1, and is free. Buses will leave
the State House at 1:30 p.m.
Khatchig Mouradian, a journalist, writer and translator, will deliver
the keynote address. Mouradian is the editor of the Armenian Weekly
newspaper; the Program Coordinator of Rutgers University Center of
Genocide, Conflict Resolution, and Human Rights; and a PhD candidate
in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University.
Joint House/Senate Resolutions will be awarded to local playwright and
lecturer Joyce Van Dyke, whose recent play Deported/A Dream Play is
the story of her own grandmother, and to former state Senator Steven
Tolman, according to Brownsberger's office. Performers include students
of the Armenian Sisters Academy and St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary
School, and Haig Hovsepian on violin accompanied by Ani Hovsepian.
"This is my 12th year participating in this program," said Tsoleen
Sarian, who is chairing and coordinating the organizing committee.
"This event honors my grandparents and all survivors by calling out
human rights atrocities for those who don't have a voice. We also
recognize the many generations who contribute to society and our
local communities here in Massachusetts."
Sarian works closely with state Rep. Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown),
state Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown) and state Sen. William Brownsberger
(D-Belmont) who host the day.
"Massachusetts should be proud that we set aside a day each year at
the State House to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said Rep. Hecht.
"Many people may not be aware that the U.S. Congress has yet to
recognize formally this genocide, though there are renewed and ongoing
bipartisan efforts to pass a resolution in Washington, and many in
our local community - both Armenians and non-Armenians - are working
towards that end."
"The energy put into this event demonstrates the devotion of the entire
Armenian American community, and the many friends of that community, to
the commemoration and recognition of the genocide," said Brownsberger.
"Watching youth perform at the commemoration is particularly
enjoyable," said Lawn. "It's also symbolic of the commitment by
Armenian Americans to pass on their culture - whether it be language,
music, song, or dance, and to teach children about their history and
the importance of human rights."
A reception will follow the program. The late Speaker George Keverian
began the annual commemoration at the State House in 1985.
By Charlie Breitrose
Belmont Patch
http://belmont.patch.com/articles/brownsberger-hosting-armenian-genocide-commemoration-on-friday
April 17 2012
Buses from Watertown will take people to the event at the State House
in Boston.
The Bay State's Armenian community will fill the State House on Friday,
April 20 for the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
This year's cermony will take place at 10:30 a.m. The event is both
solemn and celebratory, recognizing the genocide of 1.5 million
Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Turkish government,
as well as honoring survivors and looking forward as Armenian American
descendants commit themselves to preserving their culture and working
for humanitarian projects and awareness, according to a press release
from State Sen. Will Brownsberger's office.
Buses to the State House will leave at 9 a.m. from St. James and St.
Stephen's Church in Watertown. The bus service is donated by the
Knights of Vartan, Ararat Lodge No. 1, and is free. Buses will leave
the State House at 1:30 p.m.
Khatchig Mouradian, a journalist, writer and translator, will deliver
the keynote address. Mouradian is the editor of the Armenian Weekly
newspaper; the Program Coordinator of Rutgers University Center of
Genocide, Conflict Resolution, and Human Rights; and a PhD candidate
in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University.
Joint House/Senate Resolutions will be awarded to local playwright and
lecturer Joyce Van Dyke, whose recent play Deported/A Dream Play is
the story of her own grandmother, and to former state Senator Steven
Tolman, according to Brownsberger's office. Performers include students
of the Armenian Sisters Academy and St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary
School, and Haig Hovsepian on violin accompanied by Ani Hovsepian.
"This is my 12th year participating in this program," said Tsoleen
Sarian, who is chairing and coordinating the organizing committee.
"This event honors my grandparents and all survivors by calling out
human rights atrocities for those who don't have a voice. We also
recognize the many generations who contribute to society and our
local communities here in Massachusetts."
Sarian works closely with state Rep. Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown),
state Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown) and state Sen. William Brownsberger
(D-Belmont) who host the day.
"Massachusetts should be proud that we set aside a day each year at
the State House to recognize the Armenian Genocide," said Rep. Hecht.
"Many people may not be aware that the U.S. Congress has yet to
recognize formally this genocide, though there are renewed and ongoing
bipartisan efforts to pass a resolution in Washington, and many in
our local community - both Armenians and non-Armenians - are working
towards that end."
"The energy put into this event demonstrates the devotion of the entire
Armenian American community, and the many friends of that community, to
the commemoration and recognition of the genocide," said Brownsberger.
"Watching youth perform at the commemoration is particularly
enjoyable," said Lawn. "It's also symbolic of the commitment by
Armenian Americans to pass on their culture - whether it be language,
music, song, or dance, and to teach children about their history and
the importance of human rights."
A reception will follow the program. The late Speaker George Keverian
began the annual commemoration at the State House in 1985.