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OC Community Honors Heroes from Khanasor to Lisbon

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  • OC Community Honors Heroes from Khanasor to Lisbon

    OC Community Honors Heroes from Khanasor to Lisbon
    http://asbarez.com/104967/oc-community-honors-heroes-from-khanasor-to-lisbon/
    Thursday, August23rd,
    2012
    | Posted by Contributor



    OC community gathered to celebrate heroes

    An Evening of Remembrance and Tribute to Our Fallen Heroes

    BY HAGOP BADOLIAN

    SANTA ANA - The most striking memory from the July 28 event honoring our
    fallen heroes was how intently everyone was listening to the speakers and
    presenters which took center stage one after the other. After all, the
    audience knew that this was not just another gathering. They knew that they
    were there to honor those countless men and women throughout our tumultuous
    history that sacrificed their most precious asset: their lives. The evening
    began with Talin Artinian welcoming the guests on behalf of the Armen Karo
    Gomideh and the Armenian Center Committee.

    She stated that the reason for the gathering is to remember and celebrate
    the triumphant disciplinary act of the `Khanasor Arshavank', and pay
    respect to the Lisbon 5 heroes, while on the other hand to raise funds for
    the maintenance and renovation of the Armenian Center, which serves as a
    home to Armenians in Orange County and over 100 youth. She reaffirmed the
    fact that in the Diaspora, Armenians are known to build and survive; we are
    known to stay true to our culture and literature and sing our sorrows and
    victories. With that she invited the keynote speaker of the evening.

    The keynote speaker, Hovig Saliba, began his speech with a moment of
    silence, during which he read a representative list of names of the fallen
    heroes that spanned from the `Gugunian' march towards freedom to the
    liberation of Artsakh. In his speech, he presented the image of the
    Armenian Freedom fighter, their dedication to the Armenian cause, and their
    unwavering commitment to the advancement the Armenian cause.

    Saliba bridged the gap from `Khanasor's' disciplinary act against the Kurds
    to the sacrifice of the Lisbon Five and beyond by outlining the
    ideological, political, and social forces that gave hope and courage to our
    heroes to give their lives in order to revive the will in our people to
    fight and struggle on for the freedom of the Armenian people.


    A special requiem Mass was held on July 29

    He concluded his remarks by pointing out that we are gathered here tonight
    as a family to remember and honor our `children,' the fallen heroes and
    embrace their legacy to carve our future. He stated that we are also here
    tonight to follow in their footsteps and that the Armenian Revolutionary
    Federation which remains the only viable organization; that the ARF
    inspired the many before us and continues to be at the forefront of our
    collective struggle; that the ARF will
    continuethis
    movement until such day when we as a nation dock on the shores of
    prosperity and peace on a land that we'd like to call
    Free,
    Independent, and United Armenia.

    Nora Injeian from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter, in a very moving speech,
    echoed her late father's, Vahe Injeian's remarks that `the Armenian Center
    is our second home.' She stated that the Armenian Center is a symbol of our
    existence and therefore we have an obligation and a duty to preserve it.

    Nora Gourdikian and Mher Zaher from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter presented
    a slide show through which they recounted the historical facts of the
    `Khanasor' disciplinary expedition and the Lisbon Five heroic act. They
    reaffirmed the AYF's commitment to stay true to their calling, and that the
    entire AYF in the Western United States has declared 2012 the year of the
    Freedom Fighter. As such, they have launched a massive campaign and various
    fundraisings to help families of our fallen heroes.

    Alik Cherchian from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter delivered to the audience
    the prelude to the Lisbon Five song written by Vicken Hovsepian. Araz
    Madenlian spoke next on behalf of the Aghpiur Serop Badanegan organization.
    In her remarks, she thanked the ARF Armen Karo Gomideh as well as their ARF
    advisors and the supporting AYF members for their dedication and commitment
    to the Badanees. She conveyed to the audience the pride and commitment of
    the Badanees and the leadership skills they learn by coming to the Armenian
    Center every Friday.

    Nersig Inpirian then took over the stage and inspired everyone with his
    stories and patriotic songs, which reminded everyone of our sorrows and
    triumphs. But most importantly his songs surely touched the hearts of both
    young and old and it re-energized everyone's will and commitment to step
    up, care, and preserve the community's second home - our Armenian Center.

    The next day, Sunday July 29, special requiem services were conducted at
    Forty Martyr's Armenian church, where once again the community gathered to
    remember and honor the heroes of Lisbon 5 - Simon, Sarkis, Vatche, Ara, and
    Setrak.

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