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  • 100km Covered, Book & Documentary Coming

    100KM COVERED, BOOK & DOCUMENTARY COMING

    10:24, 10 Dec 2014
    http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/12/10/100km-covered-book-documentary-coming/

    On Sunday November 30, over 100 participants- walkers, bicyclists,
    motorcycle riders, and supporting volunteers- in the 100km Tribute
    converged at the foot of the hill leading up to Montebello's Armenian
    Genocide Martyrs memorial Monument and together marched up to it in
    the pouring rain.

    The emotional ceremony was preceded by a "shoorch bar" to live zoorna
    music while everyone was getting drenched.

    "We wanted this gathering to be an affirmation. As the closeted
    mourning prior to 1965 gave way to increased political awareness
    and activism, then so to will 2015 be the threshold of a new era of
    Armenian justice. Through our culture, convictions, and engagement,
    we will restore what is rightfully ours," explained Garen Yegparian,
    one of the organizers.

    Over the course of a four-day walk, hikers braved nasty blisters. One
    of the bicyclists was briefly hospitalized on their tour of Los
    Angeles-area Armenian schools, churches, and even the grave of Genocide
    avenger Missak Torlakian. The motorcyclists, one of whom had ridden
    to Los Angeles all the way from the East Coast, had to brave the cold
    rain without the benefit of exercise to warm them.

    Particularly poignant was the second night of the walk spent in the
    Angeles National Forest's Valley Forge campground. There is a stark
    coincidence of Armenian Genocide misery and the suffering endured by
    George Washington's troops during the harsh winter they endured at the
    same-named location north of Philadelphia. Seated around the campfire,
    participants shared their families' tales of survival and sometimes
    post-World War I reunifications, even with Turkified relatives. Few
    were the eyes that were dry that night.

    Another interesting coincidence in a year fraught with such meaning
    for Armenians is that the mayorships of the cities the 100km Tribute
    started and ended in are held by Armenians: Glendale's Zareh Sinanyan
    and Montebello's Jack Hadjinian. They spoke at the opening and closing
    ceremonies of the 100km journey. Also speaking at these programs
    were Robert Assarian (closing MC and AHA), Armen Hagobian (ACA),
    George Chuldzhyan (Hye Riders), Kevork Nazarian (historian), Jora
    Manoucharian (RAA) , Anthony Portantino (opening MC), Vivian Romero
    (Montebello City Council), Valod Shaverdian (AHS), Garen Yegparian
    (AHA).

    Much of the project was enabled through the tireless efforts of the
    "trails angels" who supported the walkers by setting up camp each
    night and attending to countless organizational needs.

    All this was recorded by Peter Musurlian who will be preparing a
    documentary about the whole 100km Tribute effort with the hope of
    exposing broader audiences to the Armenian saga throug feet, pedals,
    and motors.

    The other piece of unfinished business is the collection of
    outstanding pledges, totaling some $30,000, which will fund the
    publication about the architecture of Hayotz Tsor, one of the
    regions of Van province. This is the first volume of 36 dedicated
    to presenting Armenian history, region-by-region, of the whole
    country which Research on Armenian Architecture has been preparing
    for over four decades. Contributions are still being accepted at
    https://itsmyseat.com/donate.html?did=473199.

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