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MA STATE HOUSE TO COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE ON APRIL 19, MARCH CANCELLED
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/04/17/ma-state-house-to-commemorate-genocide-on-april-19-march-cancelled/
April 17, 2013
BOSTON, Mass.~WEach April for the past 28 years, members of the
Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have filled
the House Chamber at the State House to commemorate the Armenian
Genocide. This year marks the 98th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide and the commemoration will take place on Friday, April 19 at
10:30 a.m. with a program of speakers and honorees.
A scene from last year~Rs State House commemoration (Photo by Aaron
Spagnolo, The Armenian Weekly)
A march that was scheduled after the ceremony from the State House to
the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway has been
cancelled after the Boston marathon attacks.
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.
Former US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, who served from
2006 to 2008, will deliver the keynote address. Armenian Heritage Park
architect Donald Tellalian will be honored with a Joint House and
Senate Resolution. Dedicated in May of 2012, the park is a gift to
Boston and the Commonwealth from the Massachusetts Armenian-American
community. The split dodecahedron abstract sculpture, which rests atop
a 16-ft diameter reflecting pool, is designed to be reconfigured each
year and symbolizes those who were pulled apart from their country but
reestablished themselves in different ways. Visitors to the park can
also walk a labyrinth that reflects the journey of life.
The committee organizing the event is jointly chaired by state
Representatives Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown), Dave Rogers
(D-Cambridge) and John Lawn (D-Watertown); and state Sen. Will
Brownsberger (D-Belmont), who will host the day.
Survivors of the Genocide will be presented with proclamations at the
State House ceremony and photographs of others will be present through
the participation of attendees in the ~SStand Up For Your Survivor~T
program organized by Arlington High School senior Anahis Kechejian.
~SThere are so few survivors left,~T said Kechejian, ~SThis is one way
for descendants to honor our ancestors, and for youth such as myself
to pledge our efforts to work for justice and preserve our Armenian
heritage.~T
The participation of youth is an integral part of the commemoration.
Members of the Homenetmen Scout Troop will attend, as will students
from the Armenian Sisters~R Academy and St. Stephen~Rs Armenian
Elementary School, who will perform music at the State House.
~STo see our youth involved in this event is particularly meaningful to
me,~T said Hecht. ~SThey are our bridge to the future and our hope that
such atrocities will never take place again. The late Speaker George
Keverian, who began the annual commemoration at the State House in
1985, would be pleased to see the program has now extended beyond the
State House with this year~Rs march.~T
~SWhen the posters of survivors are held high in the House Chamber for
all to see, it reminds us of a history that must be recognized and
remembered, and calls us to the importance of working for human
rights,~T said Brownsberger. ~SI look forward to all ages marching
together.~T
~SThe march to the park is a wonderful addition to the commemoration,~T
said Lawn. ~SThis is a visible way of showing the pride in history and
culture of Armenian Americans as they strive for recognition of the
Genocide.~T
~SIt is time for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As a newly
elected state representative I look forward to hosting the
Commemoration and advancing this worthy cause for years to come,~T said
Rogers.
Free buses to the State House, provided by the Knights of Vartan, will
leave St. James and St. Stephen~Rs Churches in Watertown at 9 a.m.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/04/17/ma-state-house-to-commemorate-genocide-on-april-19-march-cancelled/
April 17, 2013
BOSTON, Mass.~WEach April for the past 28 years, members of the
Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have filled
the House Chamber at the State House to commemorate the Armenian
Genocide. This year marks the 98th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide and the commemoration will take place on Friday, April 19 at
10:30 a.m. with a program of speakers and honorees.
A scene from last year~Rs State House commemoration (Photo by Aaron
Spagnolo, The Armenian Weekly)
A march that was scheduled after the ceremony from the State House to
the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway has been
cancelled after the Boston marathon attacks.
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.
Former US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, who served from
2006 to 2008, will deliver the keynote address. Armenian Heritage Park
architect Donald Tellalian will be honored with a Joint House and
Senate Resolution. Dedicated in May of 2012, the park is a gift to
Boston and the Commonwealth from the Massachusetts Armenian-American
community. The split dodecahedron abstract sculpture, which rests atop
a 16-ft diameter reflecting pool, is designed to be reconfigured each
year and symbolizes those who were pulled apart from their country but
reestablished themselves in different ways. Visitors to the park can
also walk a labyrinth that reflects the journey of life.
The committee organizing the event is jointly chaired by state
Representatives Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown), Dave Rogers
(D-Cambridge) and John Lawn (D-Watertown); and state Sen. Will
Brownsberger (D-Belmont), who will host the day.
Survivors of the Genocide will be presented with proclamations at the
State House ceremony and photographs of others will be present through
the participation of attendees in the ~SStand Up For Your Survivor~T
program organized by Arlington High School senior Anahis Kechejian.
~SThere are so few survivors left,~T said Kechejian, ~SThis is one way
for descendants to honor our ancestors, and for youth such as myself
to pledge our efforts to work for justice and preserve our Armenian
heritage.~T
The participation of youth is an integral part of the commemoration.
Members of the Homenetmen Scout Troop will attend, as will students
from the Armenian Sisters~R Academy and St. Stephen~Rs Armenian
Elementary School, who will perform music at the State House.
~STo see our youth involved in this event is particularly meaningful to
me,~T said Hecht. ~SThey are our bridge to the future and our hope that
such atrocities will never take place again. The late Speaker George
Keverian, who began the annual commemoration at the State House in
1985, would be pleased to see the program has now extended beyond the
State House with this year~Rs march.~T
~SWhen the posters of survivors are held high in the House Chamber for
all to see, it reminds us of a history that must be recognized and
remembered, and calls us to the importance of working for human
rights,~T said Brownsberger. ~SI look forward to all ages marching
together.~T
~SThe march to the park is a wonderful addition to the commemoration,~T
said Lawn. ~SThis is a visible way of showing the pride in history and
culture of Armenian Americans as they strive for recognition of the
Genocide.~T
~SIt is time for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As a newly
elected state representative I look forward to hosting the
Commemoration and advancing this worthy cause for years to come,~T said
Rogers.
Free buses to the State House, provided by the Knights of Vartan, will
leave St. James and St. Stephen~Rs Churches in Watertown at 9 a.m.