SANTA ANA — Students, faculty, and families gathered at Ari Guiragos Minassian School in Santa Ana, in solemn remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, an annual tradition that continues to shape the identity and mission of the school.

The commemoration began with a prayer service led by Fr. Karekin Bedourian, who offered a message of reflection, faith, and collective responsibility. Following the prayer, students participated in a flower-laying ceremony at the Armenian Genocide monument located on the school grounds. One by one, students approached the monument with reverence, placing flowers in honor of the 1.5 million martyrs and standing in quiet reflection—a powerful visual of remembrance carried forward by a new generation.

The program then continued in Gugasian Hall, where students took the stage to present a moving and meaningful tribute. Through poetry, readings, music, and performance, each grade level contributed to a program that honored the past while reinforcing the importance of cultural identity and historical truth.

The voices of the students—steady, proud, and deeply connected—served as a reminder that the legacy of the Armenian people lives on not only in memory, but in action. Their participation reflected both an understanding of history and a commitment to preserving it.

“This commemoration is one of the most defining moments of our school year,” said Principal Ani Shahinian. “When we teach our students their language, their history, their faith, and their identity, we are doing more than educating—we are preserving. We are honoring. We are ensuring that what was nearly lost will never be lost again.

And so, while we remember the pain of our past, we must also recognize the power of our present. Our students are not defined by tragedy. They are defined by strength, by identity, and by possibility.

We remember—but we do not remain in sorrow. We honor—but we do not stand still. We rise—with purpose, with pride, and with hope.”

At Ari Guiragos Minassian School, Armenian Genocide Commemoration is not only an annual observance—it is a living _expression_ of the school’s mission. Through education, reflection, and community, students are guided to remember, to honor, and to continue telling the story of the Armenian people with strength and dignity.

—