The Fresno Bee, CA
Oct 31 2014

Groundbreaking set for Armenian monument at Fresno State

The Fresno BeeOctober 31, 2014

Valley Armenian community leaders will gather Sunday at Fresno State
to break ground on a monument memorializing the Armenian genocide.

The year 2015 will be the 100th anniversary of the start of a pogrom
against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, in which an estimated 500,000
people died. Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Fresno State
Armenian Studies program said planners hope to complete the monument
by April 24, the date the genocide is recognized as having begun in
1915.

The groundbreaking is the first in a series of events organized by the
Armenian Genocide Centennial Fresno Committee leading up to April 24.

The groundbreaking will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Fresno State Maple
Mall, south of the Satellite Student Union. Archbishop Hovnan
Dederian, of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, will be
present and speak, in addition to civic leaders.

Funds for the memorial are being raised by donations. The monument
itself was designed by Fresno architect Paul Halajian to incorporate
symbols of cultural significance to the Armenian people. Principle
components will be nine columns arranged in a circular pattern and
angled inward, reminiscent of the Tzitzernagapert monument in Yerevan,
Armenia.

Columns will descend in height from 19 feet to 15 feet, to underscore
the significance of the year 1915.

The groundbreaking is open to the public. Free parking will be
available in lots P5 and P6 near the Peters Business Building.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress