PRESS RELEASE
Ararat Home of Los Angeles, Inc.
15105 Mission Hills Rd.
Mission Hills, CA 91345
Tel: (818) 838-4860
Fax: (818) 838-4861
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Mission Hills, CA – On the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian
Genocide (1915-2015), the Board of Trustees of Ararat Home of Los Angeles, a
home for Armenian elderly, is organizing a commemoration and “Celebration of
Life” to honor the Home’s centenarian residents as well as the survivors of
the Genocide. Two of those residents, Mrs. Rose Garjian and Mrs. Yevnige
Salibian, are survivors of the Genocide and were honored by the USC Shoah
Foundation in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
Two events are planned for this commemoration. The first will be a memorial
service to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to
1923. It will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., in Sheen
Memorial Chapel on the Ararat Home Mission Hills campus. The program will
include: a requiem service to be officiated by the Diocese and Prelacy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian
Evangelical Union in the greater Los Angeles area; a musical performance by
heavenly chants flute and harp duo, Salpy and Sossy Kerkonian; the unveiling
of a memorial monument; and, a tree planting ceremony in Heritage Courtyard
by Ararat Home residents.
The second “Celebration of Life” event will reflect on the survival of the
Armenian nation by highlighting the testimonies and life stories of the
Home’s centenarian residents, which will be presented by the future
generation of Armenians – students from Los Angeles area Armenian day
schools. It will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015, at 3:00 p.m., in
Deukmejian Grand Ballroom on the Ararat Home Mission Hills campus. Mr.
Gerald S. Papazian, Chairman of the Armenian Film Foundation, will serve as
the Master of Ceremonies, and Dr. Stephen D. Smith, Executive Director of
the USC Shoah Foundation-The Institute for Visual History and Education,
will deliver the keynote address. The program will also include a film clip
presentation by Emmy Award winning documentary filmmaker Bared Maronian, a
performance by multi-faceted artist Dr. Vatche Mankerian as well as by tenor
Raffi Kerbabian. Near East Relief archival photos not seen in public for
nearly a century will be on exhibit. The program will conclude with a
“Celebration of Life” dance performance by Hamazkayin Nairi Dance Group.
Board Chairman Joseph Kanimian, Esq. commended the meticulous planning and
efforts of the Co-chairs of the Ararat Home Armenian Genocide Centennial
Commemoration Committee, Maggie Mangassarian-Goschin and Nadya Verabian, and
the participation of Committee members – Debbie Avedian, Ani Dikranian, Nora
Hampar, Margarita Kechichian, Varsenik Keshishyan, Rita Noravian and Kohar
Mardirossian Pelter, – who have worked diligently to immortalize the memory
of the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century and to celebrate
the revival and resurrection of the Armenian nation.
The public is cordially invited to attend both events. Admission is free.
For additional information, call Ararat Home at (818) 365-3000 or email
[email protected].