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| "1915-2000" 85th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Joint Commemorative Committee |
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| ARCHBISHOP BARKEV MARTIROSSIAN, PRIMATE OF KARABAGH, AND NEW YORK U.S. SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER JOIN THE KNIGHTS OF VARTAN & THE DAUGHTERS OF VARTAN IN COMMEMORATING THE 85th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE 1915-1923 |
A day holding great meaning for Christians throughout the world took on added significance when, on Palm Sunday, April 16, 2000, the Armenian Community commemorated the 85th Anniversary of The Genocide of The Armenian People by the Turkish government in the 1915-1923 period. That commemoration, held at "The Crossroads of the World", Times Square, in New York City, and sponsored (for the 15th consecutive year) by the Knights of Vartan and the Daughters of Vartan, was very well attended. Under the banner, "85 YEARS HAVE PASSED - WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN", some 1,500-2,000persons (according to police estimates) gathered to remember the 1,500,000 souls that were lost and the horrendous suffering of those who escaped death. We had the honor of the presence of 33 Genocide survivors.
The good attendance is particularly noteworthy for three reasons, according to Sam Azadian, the General Chairman for the entire Knights/Daughters of Vartan Genocide Commemoration event. First, there were many young Armenians present, more than recent such events. Second, the turnout was especially satisfying when it is remembered that not less than four area churches were holding, at the same time, their respective annual Palm Sunday dinners, which were attended by a great number that normally attend the Times Square commemoration.
The third reason is that the day started off, weatherwise, as inauspicious. It had been raining the day before, and continued into Palm Sunday. Chairman Sam Azadian decided to brave it, and moved ahead with preparations to hold the event at Times Square, rather than implement rain plans (that would have shifted the location to Kavookjian Hall at St. Vartan Cathedral). Then, about a half hour before the starting time, the clouds miraculously dispersed, and the sun came out and shone throughout the program. Providence and Mother Nature favored the Knights and Daughters of Vartan that day, for no sooner had the program concluded than it became overcast and the rain started again. Despite what looked to be an upcoming day of bad weather, the crowd came out, prepared to brave the elements. "Fortunately, they did not have to," said Chairman Azadian (who 15 years ago founded the annual commemoration at Times Square )
The program began with brother-and-sister team Nichan and Christine Tchorbajian, both Holy Martyr's Armenian Day School students, singing the national anthems of the United States and Armenia, followed by important speakers from academia and government. They included friends of the Armenians like Sen. Charles Schumer (NY); our long-time advocate, Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ); NY City Council Speaker Peter Vallone (who proudly pronounced once again that his grandchild is one-half Armenian,since that is the nationality of his daughter-in-law); NY City Comptroller Alan Hevesi; Bret Schundler, Mayor of Jersey City, NJ (who was introduced by Countesse Suzanne deParis Kazanjian); and a welcome newcomer to this event, William Kubofcik, Mayor of Prospect Park, NJ.
The keynote speaker was His Eminence, Archbishop Barkev Martirossian, the Primate of Karabagh, who spoke of the Genocide in terms of happenings in Karabagh. Other attending clergy were His Grace, Bishop Viken Akazian, Diocesan Legate, who had traveled from Washington, DC, to represent His Eminence, Abp. Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church of America (who was unable to attend); His Excellency, Most Rev. Hovhannes Tertzagian, Apostolic Exarch for Armenian Catholics; Rev. Nishan Bakalian, of the Evangelical Church of NY ; and V.Rev. Anoushavan Tanelian, representing H.E.Abp. Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Prelacy.
The well-received speeches of Mrs. Mary Tateosian, the Grand Matron of the Daughters of Vartan, and Everett Berberian, Esq., the Grand Commander of the Knights of Vartan, as well as the respective recitations so articulately given by Mrs. Shake Kadehjian and Mr. Nazareth
Yenikomoushian, stirred the audience. Grand Commander Berberian and Grand Matron Mrs. Tateosian, both of whom had traveled from San Francisco to attend the event, were introduced by Mrs. Rosine Hovsepian and Mr.Thomas Bardakian, District Representatives of the Daughters of Vartan and the Knights of Vartan, respectively.
The crowd responded to the eloquent talks of Prof. James Russell of Harvard University, who spoke of the chutzpah [gall] of the Turkish government's denial of the occurrence of the Genocide, and of Prof. Ani Kalaidjian of Fordham University. They sat with rapt attention as Prof. Kalaidjian related her experiences at a recent three-day colloquium on Genocide, and how she was pressured by Turkish attendees not to use the "G"-word [genocide], and even received threats. We are happy to say that, to her credit, she prevailed, nonetheless.
The Armenian Assembly was ably represented by the Chairman of its Board of Directors, Van Krikorian, Esq., who brought the audience up to date on his organization's purchase of a multi-million dollar Washington, DC, property located two blocks from the White House. The property will be renovated at substantial expense and, it is exciting to report, will house a soon-to-be established Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial (which will include historical exhibits, etc., describing the Genocide), as well as the Assembly's offices, etc.
Support for the event was lent also by the presence of Knights of Vartan former Grand Commanders Harry Dorian of Philadelphia, Kegham Tcholakian of New York, and Charles Tateosian of California, as well as a delegation of young people from the Greek and Cypriot communities.
Event General Chairman and Master of Ceremonies Sam Azadian (he wore both hats) also expressed his and his committee's sincere gratitude to His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and the Diocesan Council for allowing the Times Square event to be held at Kavookjian Hall in the event of rain. He similarly thanked, as well, Rev. L. Nishan Bakalian, the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York, and its Board of Trustees, for allowing the use of their premises for several meetings. Mr. Azadian also thanked Hirant Gulian and the "Hye Doon" of New Jersey for the use of their facilities. The generosity of all of them is much appreciated.
Messrs. Azadian and Gulian indicated that they and the Knights of Vartan and the Daughters of Vartan of the Mid-Atlantic area express their sincere gratitude to all those who participated, in whatever fashion, in this year's event, and, also, to those persons in all parts of the country (members of the Knights of Vartan and Daughters of Vartan and non-members, alike) who supported this 85th Anniversary commemoration by their attendance and/or financial support.
Last, but by no means least, Sam Azadian expressed his and his committee's thanks to Mr. Vartan Abdo and the "Armenian Radio Hour of NJ" for their total generosity and cooperation in publicizing this event.
Sam, together with Mr. Hirant Gulian and a number of other members of the sponsoring Mid-Atlantic Knights of Vartan and Daughters of Vartan, put great effort and planning into the event. They held many planning meetings and did whatever it took - and the results showed it. Many who were there, including quite many of the young people, praised the content of this year's program and its smooth execution by the able master of ceremonies for the day, Sam Azadian. Upon the completion of the event, a large number of the audience approached Sam to offer their congratulations, some of them paying the ultimate compliment by saying, "Vartzgud Gadar". The chairman and his committee deserve well-earned plaudits.
General Chairman Sam Azadian indicates that next year's event will be even better, and issues an invitation for all to attend. |
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