Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Carina Karakashian
Staff Writer
“It was not war. It was most certainly massacre and genocide, something the world must remember…” (Israeli Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin), and remember is what the Fresno State Armenian Students did on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 at their 12 noon remembrance of the 87th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Students, guests, and community members gathered at the Fresno State Free Speech Area in remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians massacred by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915.
The Armenian Students Organization, with the help of the community, held one of its most successful campus commemorations. The entire Armenian community was represented at the event. There was a wide array of students present. Students ranging from nursery through college were all showing their respect to their culture. Parents and family members were also present. The AGBU Youth Organization provided lemonade on this hot spring day.
The master of ceremonies was Michael Harutinian, President of the Armenian Student Organization. The ceremony commenced with the remarks of former Fresno County Sheriff Hal McKinney. His inspiring and truthful words demonstrated that Armenians and non-Armenians alike share in the honor of our people.
Then the honorable Judge Debra Kazanjian spoke to the crowd, telling them what an impact the Armenian Community has had on Fresno, and how the genocide had inspired Armenians to be the leaders of the community. “Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide is important not only to keep alive the memory of those Armenians who died, but also to remind the world of its duty” Kazanjian commented.
Also taking part in the program were Fresno State Armenian Student Organization members Ani Cardoux, Dikran Chekian, and Sevag Tateosian who each expressed their emotions.
Ani read an eloquent poem in Armenian by Daniel Varoujan. Sevag read the declaration by the California Legislature marking April 24th as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Dikran expressed his devotion and dedication by speaking about the facts of the Genocide.
To conclude the ceremonies, Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian made brief comments about the importance of remembrance as part of the Genocide commemoration. He said that the large number of students present at the ceremony attested to their continued commitment. Along with distinguished community members Der Mugrdechian initiated the laying of flowers on a model of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument. While musicians Jim and Edward Karagozian played solemn Armenian music, the rest of the crowd followed Prof. Der Mugrdechian’s lead.
And at the conclusion of the ceremony, the monument stood as a proud reminder of the Genocide, just as the Martyrs’ Monument in Armenia does. Turkish wartime leader Talat Pasha once told a German Ambassador, “What on earth do you want? The question is settled. There are no more Armenians.” Talat Pasha couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Armenian community in Fresno, along with all of the Armenian communities around the world, with their commemorations and respect for the 1.5 million massacred in 1915 demonstrates that the Armenians will never forget what happened 87 years ago, and that the Genocide will never be forgotten.