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Wednesday, April 26, 2017
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COMMEMORATION
KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE Community remembers Armenian Genocide victims By Hayley Salazar | @Hayley_Salazarr
About 100 people gathered around the Armenian Genocide Monument on Monday night for a ceremony commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the tragic occurrence. Attendees made their way through the monument where they laid bouquets and wreaths of colorful flowers on the floor of the monument to pay tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians massacred over 100 years ago. The commemoration began with a religious ceremony where listeners joined in prayer and heard from the Rev. Kevin Kasper, associate pastor of the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church in Fresno. As dusk fell to night, the Armenian Genocide Monument glowed with orange, red and blue to represent the Armenian flag. Master of ceremonies, Dr. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, who is the coordinator for the Armenian Studies program, welcomed Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro to share a few words with the community. “Fresno State pledges to keep the remembrance alive with this monument. It is a symbol of hope, education, memory and inspiration,” Castro said. “It demonstrates the university’s commitment to human rights and justice.” The establishment of the monument two years ago
was one of the most significant milestones in the 106year history of the university, said Castro. “We, of course, are an educational institution, and education is at the core of the Armenian Genocide Monument,” Castro said. “This monument informs people of Armenian history and brings awareness to the tragic events of the 20th century. I urge all of us in our community to become aware of the history of Armenia and the genocide. We will never forget.” Castro also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Fresno State Armenian Studies Program. Since its founding in 1977 the program’s courses have reached approximately 12,000 students and has graduated about 131 students with minors in Armenian studies. Following Castro’s address, Fresno Mayor Lee Brand spoke. Brand recalled his time growing up and learning about the genocide. Above all, the mayor stressed the importance of remembering the history of the genocide. “Make sure the eternal light stays lit,” Brand said. “Remember the [villages] that were wiped off the face of the map; remember the death marches across the Syrian Desert to come to concentration camps. Remember the many executions and massacres and
See COMMEMORATION, Page 3 Khone Saysamongdy and Megan Trindad • The Collegian
The Fresno State community gathers at the Armenian Genocide Monument on campus during the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Monday night, on April 24, 2017.