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PASADENA APPROVES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL PARK
Lasentinel
Sept 20 2013
Published on Friday, 20 September 2013 20:53
Former Mayor Bill Paparian Leads Crusade
In a packed chamber that spilled over into the hallway and a viewing
room downstairs, the Pasadena City Council voted unanimously on
recently to install an Armenian Genocide Memorial at Memorial Park.
The majority of the 36 people who submitted comment cards to present
before the council spoke favorably about the project as it was
proposed. Ninety-three others in attendance who chose not to speak
signed a petition of support, joining the 1,010 other community
members who had signed an earlier petition in support of the project.
The project's expected completion date is April 24, 2015 to mark the
100th anniversary of the genocide, in which more than 1.5 million
Armenians are said to have died under the Ottoman Turks.
Many people have no idea of the significance of April 24 because the
Turkish and U.S. governments deny that genocide occurred.
However, Former Pasadena police chief Barney Melekian, who is also
on the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, said that the
Armenian genocide was the first act of extermination in the 21st
century with significant evidence that it was the training ground
for the Holocaust that followed less than 25 years later.
"Thousands of Armenians came to Pasadena to rebuild their shattered
lives. They grew and prospered and raised their families to help make
this city what it is today. It seems imperative that all of Pasadena
learn about this event and remember that the unthinkable can happen,"
Melekian said.
Pasadena has a unique relationship with the Armenian American
community, having issued an annual proclamation commemorating the
genocide for more than 30 years as well as amending affirmative action
codes to make Armenians a protected class.
Pasadena also has a sister city in Armenia. Armenian Americans have
lived in the city since its inception, today totaling more than 20,000
according to church polls.
"I think an Armenian Genocide Memorial is vital to this community. I
think it will provide a tremendous education value on something
that is inextricably tied up in Pasadena as well as the world,"
Councilmember Terry Tornek said.
Councilmembers Tournek, Jacque Robinson and Margaret McAustin had
several questions including whether Memorial Park would have enough
room for the thousands who could come for the remembrance of the
genocide that is observed every year in Pasadena.
They also expressed concern about needing to revise the policy
detailing the approval process for future memorials.
"The greater good prevailed and nothing's ever perfect but I think
it's appropriate in the Memorial park," Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson
said, who had the strongest reservations about the location.
Several military veterans expressed their concern that the Armenian
Genocide Memorial may overshadow the park that in their opinion should
be reserved for American casualties.
"If this memorial is as successful as I think we hope it is, I fear
it will come at the cost of changing the meaning of Memorial Park. The
memorial is fantastic, I think it merits its own park," veteran David
Alexander said.
There were 36 speakers, but no one spoke negatively of the elegant
and beautiful design by Art Center College of Design student Catherine
Menard whose design was chosen in a contest with 17 submissions.
The memorial will feature a carved-stone basin of water straddled by a
tripod arrangement of three columns leaning into one another, where a
single drop of water will fall from highest point every three seconds.
Each will represent one life lost during the Armenian Genocide,
falling from the structure that was the instrument of death.
"It's not just a tripod, the scaffold represents where the leaders of
our nation were hung by the Ottoman Turkish government at the outset
of the genocide," PASAGMC board member and former Pasadena Mayor Bill
Paparian said.
Paparian along with Melekian and former state Assemblyman Anthony
Portantino were part of the Armenian group of leaders who came forward
to submit an application for the memorial in May of 2012. The PASAGMC
has already raised $40,000 to build the memorial and will also be
the caretakers once the project has been implemented.
http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11953 :pasadena-approves-armenian-genocide-memorial-park&catid=80:local&Itemid=170
Lasentinel
Sept 20 2013
Published on Friday, 20 September 2013 20:53
Former Mayor Bill Paparian Leads Crusade
In a packed chamber that spilled over into the hallway and a viewing
room downstairs, the Pasadena City Council voted unanimously on
recently to install an Armenian Genocide Memorial at Memorial Park.
The majority of the 36 people who submitted comment cards to present
before the council spoke favorably about the project as it was
proposed. Ninety-three others in attendance who chose not to speak
signed a petition of support, joining the 1,010 other community
members who had signed an earlier petition in support of the project.
The project's expected completion date is April 24, 2015 to mark the
100th anniversary of the genocide, in which more than 1.5 million
Armenians are said to have died under the Ottoman Turks.
Many people have no idea of the significance of April 24 because the
Turkish and U.S. governments deny that genocide occurred.
However, Former Pasadena police chief Barney Melekian, who is also
on the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, said that the
Armenian genocide was the first act of extermination in the 21st
century with significant evidence that it was the training ground
for the Holocaust that followed less than 25 years later.
"Thousands of Armenians came to Pasadena to rebuild their shattered
lives. They grew and prospered and raised their families to help make
this city what it is today. It seems imperative that all of Pasadena
learn about this event and remember that the unthinkable can happen,"
Melekian said.
Pasadena has a unique relationship with the Armenian American
community, having issued an annual proclamation commemorating the
genocide for more than 30 years as well as amending affirmative action
codes to make Armenians a protected class.
Pasadena also has a sister city in Armenia. Armenian Americans have
lived in the city since its inception, today totaling more than 20,000
according to church polls.
"I think an Armenian Genocide Memorial is vital to this community. I
think it will provide a tremendous education value on something
that is inextricably tied up in Pasadena as well as the world,"
Councilmember Terry Tornek said.
Councilmembers Tournek, Jacque Robinson and Margaret McAustin had
several questions including whether Memorial Park would have enough
room for the thousands who could come for the remembrance of the
genocide that is observed every year in Pasadena.
They also expressed concern about needing to revise the policy
detailing the approval process for future memorials.
"The greater good prevailed and nothing's ever perfect but I think
it's appropriate in the Memorial park," Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson
said, who had the strongest reservations about the location.
Several military veterans expressed their concern that the Armenian
Genocide Memorial may overshadow the park that in their opinion should
be reserved for American casualties.
"If this memorial is as successful as I think we hope it is, I fear
it will come at the cost of changing the meaning of Memorial Park. The
memorial is fantastic, I think it merits its own park," veteran David
Alexander said.
There were 36 speakers, but no one spoke negatively of the elegant
and beautiful design by Art Center College of Design student Catherine
Menard whose design was chosen in a contest with 17 submissions.
The memorial will feature a carved-stone basin of water straddled by a
tripod arrangement of three columns leaning into one another, where a
single drop of water will fall from highest point every three seconds.
Each will represent one life lost during the Armenian Genocide,
falling from the structure that was the instrument of death.
"It's not just a tripod, the scaffold represents where the leaders of
our nation were hung by the Ottoman Turkish government at the outset
of the genocide," PASAGMC board member and former Pasadena Mayor Bill
Paparian said.
Paparian along with Melekian and former state Assemblyman Anthony
Portantino were part of the Armenian group of leaders who came forward
to submit an application for the memorial in May of 2012. The PASAGMC
has already raised $40,000 to build the memorial and will also be
the caretakers once the project has been implemented.
http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11953 :pasadena-approves-armenian-genocide-memorial-park&catid=80:local&Itemid=170