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7th Annual Armenian Identity Festival in Pasadena
By MassisPost
Updated: July 23, 2014
By Kevork Keushkerian
The 7th annual Identity Festival organized by the Armenian Community
Coalition of Pasadena was a smashing success on Sunday, July 20, 2015.
Victory Park that day was transformed into a bee hive with more than
4,000 people, Armenians and non-Armenians alike, from all walks of
life were in and out through out the day from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m.
in the evening. This event was cosponsored by Congresswoman Judy Chu,
The City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Library.
The theme of the day was to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the
first Armenian settlement in the city of Pasadena, which was
incorporated into cityhood just three years earlier. I was pleasantly
impressed that the Mistresses of the Ceremony were young and talented
Armenian Ladies from our community, namely Nayri Krouzian and Serah
Chahinian, who masterfully conducted the program in English and
Armenian respectively. Another young artist, Sevag Chahinian, was the
D.J. for the day.
The festivities of the day began with an acapela rendition of the
American and Armenian National Anthems by Maral Kurdian, a junior at
the Armenian General Benevolent Union's Vatche and Tamar Manougian
High School in Pasadena. She mesmerized the audience by her beautiful
voice.
Among the dignitaries attending the festival was Congresswoman Judy
Chu, who reflected upon the contributions of some the famous Armenian
scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs, who had helped advance the
technology, which made America a better place to live and prosper. She
then presented several Certificates of Congressional Recognition to
some of the hard working members of the Armenian Community Coalition
of Pasadena.
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, addressing the audience said that "This
festival demonstrates how deep the roots are for the Armenian
community. We welcome and celebrate different cultures and learn from
one another. That makes Pasadena a more enjoyable and a more
stimulating city."
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez congratulated the Armenian
Community Coalition on the occasion of the 7th annual Identity
Festival and said that "We have a great city and a great police
department and many of the lessons learned come from our Armenian
brothers and sisters. The influence you have in Pasadena is
extraordinary, in medicine, engineering, and entrepreneurship." He
then continued saying, "I'm proud to announce that in the great
history of the Pasadena Police Department, about six months ago, we
hired our first Armenian woman."
Assemblyman Chris Holden and Glendale City Councilwoman Lorry Friedman
also addressed the audience, congratulating the Armenian Community
Coalition and reiterating the important role of the Armenians in their
respective district and city.
Dr. Hovhannes Ahmaranian and Kevork Keushkerian spoke on behalf of the
Armenian Community Coalition of Pasadena in Armenian and English,
respectively. They both dwelled upon the fact that Armenians had
settled in Pasadena 125 years ago and that now the Armenian population
in Pasadena had grown to have 4 schools, 6 churches, 4 cultural
organizations and 2 weekly newspapers.
They also mentioned that the first settler, Mr. Movses Pashgian, had
become the Grand Marshall in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1915.
Coincidentally, 100 years later, the first Armenian Rose Float will
parade along the 5.5 mile route on Colorado Blvd. on January 1, 2015.
This will be a unique opportunity for Armenians to share their 7000
year old rich cultural heritage with the whole world, making them
proud and resolute to pass the torch on to the next generation.
Entertainment was provided throughout the day by a selected host of
singers and dancers; such as Nshan Tchaghatsbanian, Kevork Chakmayan,
Gantegh (Lantern) choir, Pateel (Snow Flake) and Nor Serount (New
Generation) Dance Groups and Vartan & Seranoush Kevorkian Dance
Ensemble. The audience was elated by their performances and gave them
loud applauses and constantly shouted words of praise.
Finally, it was time for cutting the 125th anniversary cake.
Congresswoman Chu, Mayor Bogaard and Police Chief Sanchez, along with
Chris Chahinian, Chairman of the Armenian Community Coalition of
Pasadena participated in the cake cutting ceremony. The cake was
donated by Sarkis Pastry of Pasadena. The cake was big enough to
satisfy all the children and the adults of the community who happened
to be there at around 4:30 p.m.
http://massispost.com/2014/07/7th-annual-armenian-identity-festival-in-pasadena/
By MassisPost
Updated: July 23, 2014
By Kevork Keushkerian
The 7th annual Identity Festival organized by the Armenian Community
Coalition of Pasadena was a smashing success on Sunday, July 20, 2015.
Victory Park that day was transformed into a bee hive with more than
4,000 people, Armenians and non-Armenians alike, from all walks of
life were in and out through out the day from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m.
in the evening. This event was cosponsored by Congresswoman Judy Chu,
The City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Library.
The theme of the day was to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the
first Armenian settlement in the city of Pasadena, which was
incorporated into cityhood just three years earlier. I was pleasantly
impressed that the Mistresses of the Ceremony were young and talented
Armenian Ladies from our community, namely Nayri Krouzian and Serah
Chahinian, who masterfully conducted the program in English and
Armenian respectively. Another young artist, Sevag Chahinian, was the
D.J. for the day.
The festivities of the day began with an acapela rendition of the
American and Armenian National Anthems by Maral Kurdian, a junior at
the Armenian General Benevolent Union's Vatche and Tamar Manougian
High School in Pasadena. She mesmerized the audience by her beautiful
voice.
Among the dignitaries attending the festival was Congresswoman Judy
Chu, who reflected upon the contributions of some the famous Armenian
scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs, who had helped advance the
technology, which made America a better place to live and prosper. She
then presented several Certificates of Congressional Recognition to
some of the hard working members of the Armenian Community Coalition
of Pasadena.
Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, addressing the audience said that "This
festival demonstrates how deep the roots are for the Armenian
community. We welcome and celebrate different cultures and learn from
one another. That makes Pasadena a more enjoyable and a more
stimulating city."
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez congratulated the Armenian
Community Coalition on the occasion of the 7th annual Identity
Festival and said that "We have a great city and a great police
department and many of the lessons learned come from our Armenian
brothers and sisters. The influence you have in Pasadena is
extraordinary, in medicine, engineering, and entrepreneurship." He
then continued saying, "I'm proud to announce that in the great
history of the Pasadena Police Department, about six months ago, we
hired our first Armenian woman."
Assemblyman Chris Holden and Glendale City Councilwoman Lorry Friedman
also addressed the audience, congratulating the Armenian Community
Coalition and reiterating the important role of the Armenians in their
respective district and city.
Dr. Hovhannes Ahmaranian and Kevork Keushkerian spoke on behalf of the
Armenian Community Coalition of Pasadena in Armenian and English,
respectively. They both dwelled upon the fact that Armenians had
settled in Pasadena 125 years ago and that now the Armenian population
in Pasadena had grown to have 4 schools, 6 churches, 4 cultural
organizations and 2 weekly newspapers.
They also mentioned that the first settler, Mr. Movses Pashgian, had
become the Grand Marshall in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1915.
Coincidentally, 100 years later, the first Armenian Rose Float will
parade along the 5.5 mile route on Colorado Blvd. on January 1, 2015.
This will be a unique opportunity for Armenians to share their 7000
year old rich cultural heritage with the whole world, making them
proud and resolute to pass the torch on to the next generation.
Entertainment was provided throughout the day by a selected host of
singers and dancers; such as Nshan Tchaghatsbanian, Kevork Chakmayan,
Gantegh (Lantern) choir, Pateel (Snow Flake) and Nor Serount (New
Generation) Dance Groups and Vartan & Seranoush Kevorkian Dance
Ensemble. The audience was elated by their performances and gave them
loud applauses and constantly shouted words of praise.
Finally, it was time for cutting the 125th anniversary cake.
Congresswoman Chu, Mayor Bogaard and Police Chief Sanchez, along with
Chris Chahinian, Chairman of the Armenian Community Coalition of
Pasadena participated in the cake cutting ceremony. The cake was
donated by Sarkis Pastry of Pasadena. The cake was big enough to
satisfy all the children and the adults of the community who happened
to be there at around 4:30 p.m.
http://massispost.com/2014/07/7th-annual-armenian-identity-festival-in-pasadena/