On Monday, April 24th 2006 the University of California at Irvine
Armenian Student Association organized a candlelight vigil in front of the
Administration Building on the UCI campus. Over 100 students, faculty
members and staff attended the Genocide Commemoration event.
The program began with an introduction by UC Irvine ASA President Chris
Donikian who welcomed all those who attended the event on the somber
occasion. Chris introduction was followed by the invocation which was
performed by Reverends Moushegh Tashjian & Hrant Yeretzian. In his
remarks Revered Yeretzian recalled the tragedies that his grandmother had
befallen during the Genocide, losing all three of her children before reaching
Lebanon. The Reverend also emphasized the importance of maintaining
one’s Armenian Heritage and in a brief moment of levity, stated “Yes…I am
going to say it…it would even be all right if you married one another”.
The invocation was followed by a moving video produced by UC Irvine
ASA member Shant Derderian. In his video, Shant used the example of the
children of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Mashger and showed how with
each successive act of horror, another of the young students was wiped
away. In the end, only four children from the entire school had managed to
survive.
The video was followed by a speech from Ara G. Malazian, a member of
the Armenian National Committee’s Executive Board. In his speech, Ara
emphasized the importance of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide not
just to Armenians, but to all peoples. In his remarks, Ara highlighted the
progress that has been made over the past several years in getting the
Armenian Genocide recognized as historic fact in a majority of U.S. States,
and that the time was coming for the United States to formally recognize the
Armenian Genocide.
The next speaker was Yeghzapet Garabedyan a Genocide Survivor. In
her remarks Yeghzapet recalled the tortures inflicted on the victims of the
Genocide. She also reminded the young audience of the importance of
perseverance in the face of adversity and the importance of not letting this
horrible crime go unanswered.
Yeghzapet’s remarks were briefly interrupted by a group of Turkish
protestors who initiated an altercation with a number of the attendees of the
Genocide Commemoration. The eldest member of the group, a woman,
could be heard screaming insults from across the parking lot at the
Armenians gathered for the vigil. Yeghzapet continued her remarks
unperturbed against the backdrop of police lights and the protestors were
eventually escorted off the UC Irvine Campus.
There were a number of artistic performances included in the evening
as well. Ani Keledjian performed a beautiful rendition of , Kani Voor Janeem
a capella, Gary Ohanian performed for the audience on his keyboard and
Astineh Suleimanyan, Argineh Suleimanyan & Hasmig Torosyan performed a
dance tribute in honor of the victims of the Genocide to close the event.
All in all the event was considered very successful by all those who attended
and was an encouraging sign of the increasing level of commitment to Hai
Tad in the Orange County Community.
