School students commemorate Armenian Genocide in MontebelloMarch 24, 2015 - 09:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Over 600 Armenian school students from across Southern California gathered at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello, California, to honor the memories of their ancestors and commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Students, parents, faculty, and administration were present from the following California Armenian schools: Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School, Armenian General Benevolent Union Manoogian-Demirdjian School, Armenian Mesrobian School, Armenian Sisters Academy, Charlotte and Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, and Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School, according to Asbarez. Welcoming everyone on behalf of all the Armenian school principals in his opening remarks was David Ghoogasian, Principal of Armenian Mesrobian School, which hosted the event. Mayor of City of Montebello Jack Hadjinian was in attendance and spoke alongside Montebello Councilmember Vivian Romero and Montebello City Manager Francesca Tucker-Schuyler who both expressed their solidarity with the Armenian people’s call for truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide. All students sang “Soorperoo Achkeruh”, followed by a performance of “I Remember” by Paola Kassabian along with Ferrahian school students Sose Hovannisian and Shaunt Ghazourian. “Each of you is a living monument, each of you will continue the Armenian people’s fight for justice,” said Gevorg Iskajyan, Executive Director of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee, in his remarks to the students. Armenian Sisters Academy students sang “The Martyrs of April” (Abrilian Nahadagner) as students ascended to the monument to take part in the requiem service (‘Hokehankist’ – Repose of Souls) for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and victims of crimes against humanity. Every school presented wreaths that were placed at the monument. The prayer was led by the Armenian Apostolic Church Western Prelacy’s Father Nareg Pehlivanian, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church’s Father Sarkis Petoyan, the Armenian Catholic Church’s Father Thomas Garabedian, and the Armenian Evangelical Church’s Reverend Hendrik Shahnazarian. People left the event feeling moved and inspired by the commemoration and the show of unity between the local Armenian schools and communities. Photo: Asbarez Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |