ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OBSERVED EVENTS MARK MASSACRE.Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer GLENDALE - Through lectures, exhibits and marches this week, Armenian-Americans across the Southland south·land or South·land n. A region in the south of a country or an area. south  land·er n.Noun 1. are commemorating and educating the public about the massacres that claimed the lives of many of their ancestors. From 1915 to 1923, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Turkish Ottoman Turkish n. The form of the Turkish language used as the administrative and literary language of the Ottoman Empire, containing extensive borrowings from Arabic and Persian and written in Arabic script. Empire were killed in what is known as the Armenian Genocide  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. . Traditionally, Armenians worldwide mourn mourn v. mourned, mourn·ing, mourns v.intr. 1. To feel or express grief or sorrow. See Synonyms at grieve. 2. the victims of the genocide genocide, in international law, the intentional and systematic destruction, wholly or in part, by a government of a national, racial, religious, or ethnic group. on April 24 each year. ``April 24, 1915 - that is the day when several hundred Armenian leaders were arrested and killed,'' said Levon Marashlian, professor of history at Glendale Community College Glendale Community College can refer to one of two colleges in the United States.
``They were artists, teachers, doctors, politicians, businessmen. That started the genocidal process.'' Marashlian is scheduled to make a presentation Wednesday evening at the Civic Auditorium Civic Auditorium is a name commonly used for a city's auditorium and/or arena. Canada
Organizers are expecting nearly 2,000 people to attend the event, which will also feature presentations by Valeri Mkrdaimian, counsel general of Armenia, Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian and other prominent clergymen. Because of limited parking at the Civic Auditorium, residents are urged to park at St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, Hay Arakelagan Yegeghetzi), sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church or the and ride a shuttle to the auditorium. In addition, the Glendale City Council tonight will debate whether to lower the American flag at City Hall to commemorate the genocide. The gesture in the past has been controversial because many in the community felt that lowering Old Glory should be reserved for major U.S. events and figures. In Burbank, Armenian leaders have planned to stage a candlelight vigil A candelight vigil is an outdoor assembly of people carrying candles, held after sunset. Such events are typically held either to protest at the suffering of some marginalized group of people, or in memory of lives lost to some disease, disaster, massacre or other tragedy. tonight and donate books and instructional materials on Armenian history to local public libraries and the school district. ``Although the Armenian Genocide has been made part of the curriculum in California, many of the textbooks teachers are using don't yet make mention of it,'' said Paul Krekorian Paul Krekorian was elected in 2006 to serve California's 43rd Assembly District, which includes the cities of Glendale and Burbank and the Los Feliz, Silver Lake, North Hollywood, Valley Glen, Toluca Lake, Atwater Village and Valley Village communities of Los Angeles. , a member of the Burbank chapter of the Armenian National Committee. ``We are trying to bridge the gap (with the book donations),'' he said. An estimated 70,000 Armenian-Americans live in Glendale and 10,000 more reside in Burbank. As a result of the genocide, many Armenians and their offspring fled to other parts of the world - giving Armenia the rare distinction of being a nation where more of its countrymen live outside than inside their homeland. About 4 million Armenians live outside the country, compared with 3.5 million in Armenia today. Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, is home to the largest concentration of Armenians outside of Armenia. But no matter where Armenians live, they observe April 24 as a day of remembrance, said Krekorian, who lost a great-uncle to the genocide. ``For 87 years, April 24 has been the day every Armenian throughout the world feels a part of the united community and a single thought and sentiment - that is those lost during the genocide,'' he said. Turkish officials, whose homeland Armenians blame for the killings, have steadfastly denied that a genocide took place, saying war and diseases claimed casualties on both sides. They have also argued that the number of Armenian dead is inflated and based on unreliable documents. Partly fueled by Turkey's denial, annual commemoration events draw hundreds and even thousands of participants who want to widen recognition of the genocide. Many Armenian-owned businesses close on April 24, while adults and young people alike take the day off to attend special church services and events. ``In this case, it is even more important to remember because there is a denial,'' said Marashlian. ``It's not just important for remembering Armenians who died. Tyrants would love for people to forget the evil deeds they have done.'' CALENDAR OF EVENTS Information about the Armenian Genocide will be on display this month at the Burbank Central Library, 110 N. Glenoaks. Following are other events planned in remembrance of the genocide: Today --10 a.m.-2 p.m. - The Glendale Community College Armenian Students Association will hold a commemoration event at Plaza Vaquero on campus, 6000 W. Olive Ave. --8:30 p.m. - The Armenian Revolutionary Federation The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF or ՀՅԴ) (Armenian: Հայ Յեղափոխական will hold a candlelight vigil at 8:30 p.m. at Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave. Wednesday --10 a.m. - St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church, 500 S. Central Ave., Glendale, will hold a special prayer service. --11 a.m. - United Armenian Students will lead a march to promote awareness of the Armenian Genocide starting at Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. and Hobart Street in Hollywood. --5:30-9 p.m. - A video program, performance and inspirational service will be held at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road. Residents can park at St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church, 500 S. Central Ave., and take a shuttle to the auditorium. CAPTION(S): box Box: CALENDAR (see text) |
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