Detroit Free Press , MI
April 18 2005

Ceremony highlights Armenian memories

90th anniversary of genocide observed
April 18, 2005

BY LAURA POTTS
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

For years, a lock of hair was Sandra Azoian Hutchinson’s touchstone
to the Armenian genocide.

The tresses were buried some years ago with Hutchinson’s great aunt,
who had taken the hair from her two young sons just before the boys
were killed in front of her in what is now Turkey. The grieving mother
later fled to Michigan, where she pled with generations of her family
to make sure the lock was tucked into her casket, and begged them
not to forget those years of suffering.

On Sunday, Hutchinson joined hundreds of Armenian Americans to
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the genocide, which claimed the
lives of 1.5 million Armenians.

Dignitaries, clergy and Armenian-American community leaders gathered
at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn to share
stories of loss and to generate remembrance and hope.

“It also can help inspire us to stop modern genocides, which still go
on,” said U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who made a brief appearance
before the commemoration ceremony. “It can encourage and energize us
just to remember them.”

Levin and others emphasized a need for the current Turkish government
to recognize the atrocities, which began in 1915 and included forced
marches, drownings, beatings and other horrors, they said.

The crowd — which included a handful of survivors — listened as
politicians spoke about illuminating what they said is a largely
forgotten tragedy, and religious leaders prayed and led the crowd in
traditional songs. About 70 young people from the United Commemorative
Committee, all dressed in black and wearing armbands representing
Armenia’s red, blue and orange flag, marched to the stage, where
the names of Armenian cities that lost large numbers in the genocide
were read.

“It was marvelous, especially the participation of the young people.
That was so emotional and very touching,” said Betty Apigian Kessel,
67, of Bloomfield Township. “But we are filled with hope. We are not
just here to recognize death and destruction.”