`Orphans of the Genocide’ Screened at Woodbury University in Burbank

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`Orphans of the Genocide’

The presentation of the broadcast version documentary `Orphans of the
Genocide’ directed by four time Emmy award winner Bared Maronian, took
place on Sunday, September 30th at 4:00 p.m. at the Woodbury
University in Burbank, California. This well attended event was
organized by Ararat- Eskijian Museum, with the support of both the
Western Diocese of America and the Prelacy churches.

Martin Eskijian welcomed the attendees on behalf of the
Ararat-Eskijian Museum and invited the world-renowned Armenian
Genocide scholar, Professor Vahakn N . Dadrian to the stage. Professor
Dadrian gave a compelling introductory lecture on the extreme cruelty
these young orphan children experienced at the hands of the Ottoman
Turks.

Not only were some brutally murdered by hatchets, poison and swords,
but also the novel method of mass drowning at the shores of the Black
Sea and sections of the Euphrates River, especially in the Harput
province, was utilized. Often the victims were mercilessly brutalized
through sexual abuse, before being murdered, irrespective of the
gender. Children placed in Turkish homes were almost always sexually
abused and brothels were common. Another, milder form of perpetration
involved the reducing of female victims in many Turkish households to
the status of a concubine. In rare instances the female victims were
integrated in a Turkish household as a legitimate wife, often as one
of several wives, or, as a single wife. Very few of these could, or
wanted to return to their original household after the end of the war.

Professor Dadrian’s eye opening lecture was followed by Bared
Maronian’s dynamic presentation of the Armenoid Team’s inception,
accomplishments and future plans with a focus on the team’s current
project, `Orphans of the Genocide’ that consists of a documentary film
and a companion book, telling the story of untold numbers of Armenian
children who had become prime targets by the organizers of the
Genocide.

Mr. Maronian’s extraordinary work depicts a theme that for decades has
remained overlooked by historians trying to explore the various
aspects of the World War I cataclysm that nearly obliterated the
Armenian nation. The material in question almost entirely focuses on
the surviving Armenian children. The extreme and deplorable condition
and abuses of these surviving orphans allows insight into the overall
context and intent of the crime. The object of `Turkification’ also
was a form of genocide that was perpetrated on the Armenian nation by
stripping the children of their Armenian identity. Mr. Maronian showed
4 complete segments of the broadcast version of the film, which
resonated a benchmark production value and a unique story telling
technique. At the conclusion of hid presentation, Maronian gave the
attendees a chance to express their thoughts on his film, who in
return praised the well researched and produced touching film
depicting the stories of the Armenian Genocide orphans.

Maronian thanked the attendees for their support specially all those
who generously contributed to his project. The seed-money for the
project was provided by Alecco Bezikian, who is the son of an Armenian
Genocide Orphan. Dr. Noubar Ouzounian and Sarah Chitjian, both a son
and a daughter of Genocide orphans continually supported `Orphans of
the Genocide’. `I wholeheartedly thank all those who made this project
possible, specially the curator of Ararat-Eskijian Museum, Maggie
Goschin- Mangassarian who adopted this project from it’s inception’.

Among the dignitaries were accomplished Hollywood producer Howard
Kazanjian and Missak Keleshian, the researcher who unrevealed the
story of the Armenian Genocide orphans of Aintoura, Lebanon, who were
destined for `Turkification’.

The closing words were delivered by Nancy Eskijian, Esq., who
reiterated the importance of supporting the project at hand in any way
possible.

Finally, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of
Western Diocese commanded Maronian’s work and concluded his words by
saying, ‘after seeing this powerful film, I can attest that genocide
has a different meaning to me’.

Upon the conclusion of the event the guests were invited to a
reception at the atrium of the Fletcher Jones Foundation Auditorium of
Woodbury University, where 18 images depicting the experiences of
Armenian Genocide orphans were displayed on special canvas prints.

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