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Whittier Daily News, MA
April 24 2014
Armenians say 'never forget' on 99th anniversary of genocide
By Lauren Gold, Pasadena Star-News and Mike Sprague, Whittier Daily News
Photo: In the hands of her parents, Ella Ani Kokozian, 4, of Pasadena,
heads towards the Armenian Genocide Monument in Montebello where she
placed flowers as the Armenian community of Greater Los Angeles
gathers to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Thursday, April 24, 2014. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/Pasadena
Star-News)
MONTEBELLO >> With a message of "never forget," thousands of Armenians
and others came out from Hollywood to Montebello to Pasadena Thursday
to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915
that about 300 Armenian leaders in Turkey were rounded up and deported
or killed, and nearly 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around
Istanbul.
The Turkish government has questioned the number of deaths and denies
it was a genocide.
"It's important we remember the genocide," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric
Garcetti before about 1,500 people at the United Armenian Council of
Los Angeles event at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument at
Bicknell Park in Montebello.
"There will be children who will never have known somebody who
survived the genocide," Garcetti said. "It will fall on our shoulders
now to talk about that memory. We'll need to tell the young children
growing up what happened."
Another commemoration was held on the steps of Pasadena City Hall and
in Hollywood thousands of protestors took part in a march, many
carrying signs, flags and banners as they gathered at Hollywood and
Hobart boulevards.
The program in Pasadena -- sponsored by the Armenian Community
Coalition -- featured musical tributes, poems and speeches by elected
officials and community members.
"They massacred a million and a half of us, yet today we stand as over
11 million worldwide," said Levon Keshishian, master of ceremonies for
the Pasadena event.
"For 99 years we have proven we are a people that can survive this. By
all difficulties we are a people who adapt to all situations. We are
survivors of tragedies; from time immemorial our faith has guided us
all the way," said Keshishian. "Today is not a day of mourning, it is
a day of remembrance and rededication to the cause, which is
unsolved."
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, reminded attendees that there are still
people in the world experiencing hardships and horrors similar to
those of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, specifically in Syria.
"We have a duty to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the tragedy in
Kasab (Syria) and remind the world that horror and destruction will
not be ignored," Chu said, adding that she plans to continue to push
for a congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian massacre as a
genocide.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank -- speaking in Montebello -- called on
Turkey to acknowledge the genocide.
"When we're gathered here next year for the 100th anniversary, I hope
and pray Turkey will answer with words of repentance," Schiff said. He
also called on the United States to recognize the genocide.
"I hope also the greatest nation on Earth lives up to its ideals and
recognize the Armenian genocide," Schiff said.
Another event was held Wednesday night -- also at the Montebello monument.
About 400 people were present for the speeches and musical performances.
"This is important," said Montebello Councilman Jack Hadjinian, who
was the master of ceremony on Wednesday night for the Armenian
National Committee of San Gabriel Valley-sponsored event.
"We celebrate our existence and we continue to demand justice,"
Hadjinian said. "The U.S. needs to take a position to classify what
happened in 1915 as genocide, not just a tragic event.
President Barack Obama in a statement issued Thursday said a "full,
frank and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests."
"We recall the horror of what happened 99 years ago, when 1.5 million
Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire, and we grieve for the lives lost and the
suffering endured by those men, women, and children," his statement
read.
"We are joined in solemn commemoration by millions in the United
States and across the world," he wrote. "In so doing, we remind
ourselves of our shared commitment to ensure that such dark chapters
of human history are never again repeated."
Commemoration of the Armenian genocide will continue at 6 p.m. Sunday
with a ground-blessing ceremony at the site of the Pasadena City
Council-approved Armenian Genocide Memorial in Memorial Park, 85 East
Holly Street. For information visit www.PASAGMC.org or call
818-454-3603.
-- City News Service contributed to the story
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/general-news/20140424/armenians-say-never-forget-on-99th-anniversary-of-genocide
April 24 2014
Armenians say 'never forget' on 99th anniversary of genocide
By Lauren Gold, Pasadena Star-News and Mike Sprague, Whittier Daily News
Photo: In the hands of her parents, Ella Ani Kokozian, 4, of Pasadena,
heads towards the Armenian Genocide Monument in Montebello where she
placed flowers as the Armenian community of Greater Los Angeles
gathers to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Thursday, April 24, 2014. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/Pasadena
Star-News)
MONTEBELLO >> With a message of "never forget," thousands of Armenians
and others came out from Hollywood to Montebello to Pasadena Thursday
to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
The genocide is commemorated April 24 because that was the day in 1915
that about 300 Armenian leaders in Turkey were rounded up and deported
or killed, and nearly 5,000 poor Armenians were killed in and around
Istanbul.
The Turkish government has questioned the number of deaths and denies
it was a genocide.
"It's important we remember the genocide," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric
Garcetti before about 1,500 people at the United Armenian Council of
Los Angeles event at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument at
Bicknell Park in Montebello.
"There will be children who will never have known somebody who
survived the genocide," Garcetti said. "It will fall on our shoulders
now to talk about that memory. We'll need to tell the young children
growing up what happened."
Another commemoration was held on the steps of Pasadena City Hall and
in Hollywood thousands of protestors took part in a march, many
carrying signs, flags and banners as they gathered at Hollywood and
Hobart boulevards.
The program in Pasadena -- sponsored by the Armenian Community
Coalition -- featured musical tributes, poems and speeches by elected
officials and community members.
"They massacred a million and a half of us, yet today we stand as over
11 million worldwide," said Levon Keshishian, master of ceremonies for
the Pasadena event.
"For 99 years we have proven we are a people that can survive this. By
all difficulties we are a people who adapt to all situations. We are
survivors of tragedies; from time immemorial our faith has guided us
all the way," said Keshishian. "Today is not a day of mourning, it is
a day of remembrance and rededication to the cause, which is
unsolved."
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, reminded attendees that there are still
people in the world experiencing hardships and horrors similar to
those of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, specifically in Syria.
"We have a duty to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the tragedy in
Kasab (Syria) and remind the world that horror and destruction will
not be ignored," Chu said, adding that she plans to continue to push
for a congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian massacre as a
genocide.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank -- speaking in Montebello -- called on
Turkey to acknowledge the genocide.
"When we're gathered here next year for the 100th anniversary, I hope
and pray Turkey will answer with words of repentance," Schiff said. He
also called on the United States to recognize the genocide.
"I hope also the greatest nation on Earth lives up to its ideals and
recognize the Armenian genocide," Schiff said.
Another event was held Wednesday night -- also at the Montebello monument.
About 400 people were present for the speeches and musical performances.
"This is important," said Montebello Councilman Jack Hadjinian, who
was the master of ceremony on Wednesday night for the Armenian
National Committee of San Gabriel Valley-sponsored event.
"We celebrate our existence and we continue to demand justice,"
Hadjinian said. "The U.S. needs to take a position to classify what
happened in 1915 as genocide, not just a tragic event.
President Barack Obama in a statement issued Thursday said a "full,
frank and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests."
"We recall the horror of what happened 99 years ago, when 1.5 million
Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire, and we grieve for the lives lost and the
suffering endured by those men, women, and children," his statement
read.
"We are joined in solemn commemoration by millions in the United
States and across the world," he wrote. "In so doing, we remind
ourselves of our shared commitment to ensure that such dark chapters
of human history are never again repeated."
Commemoration of the Armenian genocide will continue at 6 p.m. Sunday
with a ground-blessing ceremony at the site of the Pasadena City
Council-approved Armenian Genocide Memorial in Memorial Park, 85 East
Holly Street. For information visit www.PASAGMC.org or call
818-454-3603.
-- City News Service contributed to the story
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/general-news/20140424/armenians-say-never-forget-on-99th-anniversary-of-genocide