ASO Marks Armenian Genocide Day With Commemorative Events

To mark Armenian Genocide Week, the Armenian Students Organization (ASO) began its commemoration of the 88th anniversary of the 1915 massacres with several activities on campus. The Armenian Genocide refers to the 1.5 million Armenians who were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915 until 1923. This event continues to be remembered by Armenians throughout the world on April 24 of every year.

Beginning on Wednesday morning, April 23, the ASO displayed informative posters and distributed fliers to curious students. On the evening of the same day, the remembrance activities continued with a screening of two films, Dark Forest by Roger Kupelian and The Handjian Story directed by Denise Gentilini. Each film lasted for forty-five minutes and sparked emotional responses from the audience.

This was followed by a silent candlelight vigil. Community members along with Fresno State students walked with lit candles from McLane Hall toward the Free Speech area, where the Fr. Vahan Gosdanian, pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, conducted a requiem service (hokehankisd) in both Armenian and English. The prayers were in memory of the fallen souls of the 1915 massacres. Sevag Tateosian, president of the Armenian Students Organization, commented that “It was a successful night and we will continue the vigil as an ongoing tradition.”

The next day, April 24, the Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, brought out community members and students to the Free Speech area, where those who attended showed their support by wearing either black or red armbands.

ASO president Tateosian opened the ceremony by welcoming Fresno City Council Member Tom Boyajian, who spoke on behalf of the community and expressed his attitudes about the commemoration. He stated that even though many Armenians were killed during the massacres, the Armenian people overcame that tragedy and grew stronger. He presented professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian with a plaque, which stated the Fresno City Council recognition of a Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide. He thanked Der Mugrdechian for his continued work with the Armenian Studies Program.

This was followed by a short speech made by Associated Students Senator Tim Kuckenbaker.

Afterward, two students expressed their feelings through poetry. Gevork Aristakesyan provided a moving example of the passion felt by many Armenians toward their homeland, by reciting a poem Hayrenik, in Armenian, written by Fresno resident Sarkis Gavlakyan. A second poem, The Dance, written by Armenian poet Siamanto, and recited by Lori Garabedian, gave the listeners a depiction of the reality of the past incidents. The poem provided a description of the barbaric actions on the part of the Ottoman Turks; it spoke about young Armenian girls that were forced to dance nude for the Turkish gendarmes before they were bathed in kerosene and burned to death.

After presentations, in a continuing Fresno State tradition, people were handed carnations to place onto a model of the Martyrs Monument, located in Yerevan, Armenia. Two duduk (traditional Armenian instrument) players, Vartan Frnzlyan and Kajik Martirosyan, played several somber pieces as each person paid his/her respect. Several people took a moment of silence around the monument and prayed for lost loved ones.

It was a day for everyone to recognize and take the time to remember the truth of the 1915 genocide. This day helped many realize that a strong nation is built upon its ability to rise up from such a tragic circumstances.