NEVER FORGOTTEN
Ceremony marks anniversary of Armenian Genocide
TROY, N.Y. » Local Armenian-Americans mourned the lives of their ancestors lost in the Armenian Genocide at an annual commemoration ceremony in the Collar City.
The event, held Tuesday evening near the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Genocide Monument in Troy’s Riverfront Park, drew a large crowd including members of the Armenian community, local dignitaries and children that will grow up to be the next generation of Armenian- Americans.
Tuesday marked the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which began in 1915. In that year and several to follow it is estimated that 1.5 million Armenians perished due to an extermination that was denied for many years.
“We are all here for one reason,” said speaker Isabel Kubikian, “to commemorate and remember the 1.5 million souls that were tortured, killed and forced to die in the inhospitable desert of Deir ez-Zor, Syria under the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government.”
She continued, “103 years ago our people were massacred because they were a Christian minority. This deliberate, systematic plan to wipe Armenians off the face of the earth failed.”
While the commemoration is somber, it’s also a celebration of the still-thriving Armenian diaspora around the globe today. Children, who sang Armenian songs during the ceremony, are always part the annual event in an effort to teach them the importance of the past while showing them how to be community leaders in the future.
“Year after year the Armenians prove that we will not remain silent,” Kubikian said. “We have made a promise to our ancestors that we will forever speak about the Armenian Genocide until our voices are heard.”
The Armenian Genocide, while still denied by some, was the first holocaust of the 20th century. “We demand recognition,” Kubikian said. “The denial of the Armenian Genocide has opened doors for other like genocides to occur.”
At the ceremony, Kubikian made a few demands on the group’s behalf. “It’s simple,” she said. “Turkey must make peace with its past and acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Turkey
must return Armenia’s land back. Turkey must stop illegal blockade.”
Kubikian encouraged people to contact their government representatives to help make steps toward these goals. Local elected officials including Troy Mayor Patrick Madden, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, New York State Assemblymember John McDonald and a representative from U. S. Congressman Paul Tonko’s office were all in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony and spoke in support the Armenian-American community gathered that evening.
“Although Armenians mourn the loss every day of the year, we use this day to commemorate the truths of what happened over 100 years ago,” said Nazareth Garabedian, of the Homenetmen of Albany, “not only to honor those people who lost their lives, but to ensure that genocide never rears its head again.”