Colorado Announces Armenian Genocide Centennial Events

COLORADO ANNOUNCES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL EVENTS

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015

The Colorado State Capitol Khachkar, which commemorates the victims
of all crimes against humanity, will be officially unveiled on April 24

World Premiere of ‘I AM ALIVE’ Musical and Unveiling of Colorado
State Capitol Khachkar

DENVER, Colo.–Armenians of Colorado, Inc. (AOC) in cooperation with
local and national organizations, Wednesday announced the April 2015
events in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.

“We join Colorado’s vibrant Armenian community in commemorating the
centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,” stated Colorado
Governor John W. Hickenlooper. “In 2013, the Colorado General Assembly
and I authorized the installation of a replica Armenian khachkar
to be placed on the Colorado State Capitol grounds in memory of the
victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. We look forward to the April
24, 2015 unveiling of this beautiful monument.”

Leading up to that date there are a variety of lectures on the
Armenian Genocide focusing on Turkey’s surviving Armenian heritage,
Armenian orphan rugs and the geopolitical legacy of the Genocide. The
Denver director of Facing History and Ourselves spoke in January on
how they train educators to teach the Armenian Genocide. An exhibit
of Armenian orphan rugs, accompanied with presentations by prominent
experts Stephan Isberian and Hrach Kozibeyokian, was held in March.

Sona Hedeshian, president of Armenians of Colorado, Inc. (AOC), noted,
“We pay tribute to the victims of this unthinkable crime, to Armenian
people for their strong will to survive, to all those who raise
awareness of the Armenian Genocide and preserve the Armenian culture
through art and music. We are delighted to announce the premiere on
April 21st of Emmy-winning composer Denise Gentilini’s musical “I
AM ALIVE.” We, the Colorado Armenian community, are thankful for the
longtime support of the citizens and elected officials of Colorado,
past and present, who helped save thousands of orphans during and
following the genocide, who have recognized the Armenian Genocide, and
who helped make the khachkarat the Armenian Memorial Garden a reality.

AOC is also grateful to Alexander Ter-Hovakimyan, the Executive
Director of the Youth Foundation of Armenia, for donating the
khachkar.”

Anahid Katchian Logue, chair of the Armenian Genocide Centennial
Commemoration Committee, noted, “The events surrounding April 24,
2015 spotlight Armenians’ experiences before, during and following
the devastation of the genocide, true to our theme of Survive,
Revive, Thrive.”

Denver-based educator and Armenian National Committee of
America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) community development coordinator
Simon Maghakyan commended his fellow community activists. “We are
extremely proud of our community for its monumental successes in
educating Coloradans about the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, one of
the 20th century’s greatest crimes against humanity. It will be an
honor to gather with my community on April 24, 2015 and witness the
unveiling of the Armenian khachkar at the Colorado State Capitol,”
remarked Maghakyan.

Commemoration events will be held beyond the month of April, including
a “Colorado We Thank You” gala in September and a 10th anniversary
commemoration of the destruction of the Djulfa cemetery in December.

Armenians of Colorado, Inc. (AOC) was established in June 1980 as a
501(c)3 non-profit cultural organization. Its purpose is to create
a cohesive Armenian community and to further the understanding of
Armenian history, culture, language, customs, and heritage. AOC
actively supports issues and concerns of the Armenian-American
community in Colorado as well as those identified within the Armenian
Diaspora throughout the world.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress