Armenian Hikers Association-LA
200 North Brand Boulevard #B3 & #C3
Glendale, CA 91203
[email protected]
contact-Robert Assarian
December 4, 2014
818/434-5952
100km Covered, Book & Documentary Coming
Glendale, CA – On Sunday November 30, over 100 participants– walkers,
bicyclists, motorcycle riders, and supporting volunteers– in the
100km Tribute converged at the foot of the hill leading up to
Montebello’s Armenian Genocide Martyrs memorial Monument and together
marched up to it in the pouring rain.
The emotional ceremony was preceded by a “shoorch bar” to live zoorna
music while everyone was getting drenched.
“We wanted this gathering to be an affirmation. As the closeted
mourning prior to 1965 gave way to increased political awareness and
activism, then so to will 2015 be the threshold of a new era of
Armenian justice. Through our culture, convictions, and engagement,
we will restore what is rightfully ours,” explained Garen Yegparian,
one of the organizers.
Over the course of a four-day walk, hikers braved nasty blisters. One
of the bicyclists was briefly hospitalized on their tour of Los
Angeles-area Armenian schools, churches, and even the grave of
Genocide avenger Missak Torlakian. The motorcyclists, one of whom had
ridden to Los Angeles all the way from the East Coast, had to brave
the cold rain without the benefit of exercise to warm them.
Particularly poignant was the second night of the walk spent in the
Angeles National Forest’s Valley Forge campground. There is a stark
coincidence of Armenian Genocide misery and the suffering endured by
George Washington’s troops during the harsh winter they endured at the
same-named location north of Philadelphia. Seated around the
campfire, participants shared their families’ tales of survival and
sometimes post-World War I reunifications, even with Turkified
relatives. Few were the eyes that were dry that night.
Another interesting coincidence in a year fraught with such meaning
for Armenians is that the mayorships of the cities the 100km Tribute
started and ended in are held by Armenians: Glendale’s Zareh Sinanyan
and Montebello’s Jack Hadjinian. They spoke at the opening and
closing ceremonies of the 100km journey. Also speaking at these
programs were Robert Assarian (closing MC and AHA), Armen Hagobian
(ACA), George Chuldzhyan (Hye Riders), Kevork Nazarian (historian),
Jora Manoucharian (RAA) , Anthony Portantino (opening MC), Vivian
Romero (Montebello City Council), Valod Shaverdian (AHS), Garen
Yegparian (AHA).
Much of the project was enabled through the tireless efforts of the
“trails angels” who supported the walkers by setting up camp each
night and attending to countless organizational needs.
All this was recorded by Peter Musurlian who will be preparing a
documentary about the whole 100km Tribute effort with the hope of
exposing broader audiences to the Armenian saga throug feet, pedals,
and motors.
The other piece of unfinished business is the collection of
outstanding pledges, totaling some $30,000, which will fund the
publication about the architecture of Hayotz Tsor, one of the regions
of Van province. This is the first volume of 36 dedicated to
presenting Armenian history, region-by-region, of the whole country
which Research on Armenian Architecture has been preparing for over
four decades. Contributions are still being accepted at
Anyone interested in more details about the Tribute is encouraged to
check on Facebook ( ). The
organizers may be contacted as well: Armenian Hikers Association at
[email protected] or on Facebook
(!/groups/521538567895715/);
Armenian Hiking Society
();
Armenian Cycling Association at [email protected]; Hye Riders
!/hye.riders?fref=ts; or call
818/434-5952.
#####