Fresno Remembers - 101 years unrecognized

The theme of the Sermon at First Armenian Presbyterian Church

I spent the last couple of days attending events here with the Armenian Community in Fresno remembering the Armenian Genocide.

 As someone so aptly put - how can 1.5 million people be starved, beaten, robbed, pillaged, burned, raped to death, their villages plundered and their wealth given over to their victors and then they call it an unsolved mystery? 

No, our ancestors knew the truth and they told us and this week we marched, we observed, we prayed, we laid down flowers at memorials and we sang.

 Because, we said, we will not forget.  We will not forget our grandmother's tears, our parents' anguish, our lost and missing relatives, our villages gone and destroyed.  We have been misplaced, we have been scattered, but we are strong and we will not forget.

Near East Relief Display

I cried my grandmother's tears when I listened to the speakers at Fresno State where the Armenian Studies program has placed a monument to the people who perished. 

At the church service, all members of the different clergy came together to perform a service in honor of our ancestors.

The Armenian school brought their students to present the Armenian and American flags and sing the national anthems of both countries.

In spite of hurts and betrayals, we are still fiercely loyal.

Armenian School and Homenetmen Scouts

 














An arm of the memorial that depicts the region my paternal ancestors came from.

Kharpert - Genocide Memorial, CSUF

A small clip of a moving song played beautifully by some of the students.  I love the wood flute, a Shvi