Watertown TAB & Press, MA
April 22 2005

The art of remembering
By Ericka Crouse/ Correspondent
Friday, April 22, 2005

The memorial ceremony began with two national anthems. Though the
anthem of the United States was observed with great respect, the
heartfelt singing of the audience during the Armenian national anthem
left no question as to where the hearts and minds of these 700 were
last Sunday evening.

“Ninety years have come and gone since that fateful April day
when the Genocide began,” said Lalig Musserian, master of ceremonies
of the event commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, during remarks to the assembly. “Our emotional trauma has
since decreased, but our resolve to have our Genocide recognized has
only grown stronger.”

Right now, almost 30 countries acknowledge the Genocide. The
United States does not, due to its relationship with Turkey,
according to Musserian, though in Massachusetts there is a
gubernatorial decree acknowledging April 24 as a day of remembrance,
she said.

This year’s memorial program was dedicated to Armenian culture.
Dance, music, photography and language all played an important role
in the ceremony commemorating the beginning of the Turkish campaign
to wipe out the Armenians.

On April 24, 1915, Armenian leaders were summoned to Istanbul
and then murdered by the Turkish government, commencing years of
death and exile for Armenians. The service moved beyond merely
remembering this grim history, concentrating on messages of hope,
strength and remembrance of the Armenian motherland.

“We are all defenders of our national conscience, and it is our
struggle to have our Genocide recognized,” said Musserian during her
remarks to the assembly. “We need to continue to remind the world of
our presence and to let the world know that we have been pained, but
we have never bowed our heads.”

As people entered the hall, they were confronted with a model of
the Dzidzernagapert Memorial, constructed by Matthew Gindel of
Paragon Models and painted by members of St. James Armenian Apostolic
Church, host of the ceremony. The original was constructed in Armenia
in 1965 for the 50th anniversary of the Genocide. It contains an
eternal flame to symbolize “the Armenian spirit, which can never be
extinguished,” according to Musserian.

There was also a PBS documentary about Armenia playing silently on a
screen, with Armenian hymns and popular music playing alongside.

The presentation included performances by the Narek Bell Choir
of St. Mary Armenian Church in Washington, D.C.; Zulal, an a cappella
trio of women based out of New York; and Boston’s own Sayat Nova
Dance Company, specializing in traditional Armenian folk dancing.
There was also a prayer led by St. James’ pastor, Rev. Arakel
Aljalian.

“The reason we celebrate [the anniversary] with song and dance
instead of mourning is that we’re celebrating our survival,” said
Musserian before the event began.

Anna Kupelian, who attended the event with her mother and
several other family members, said, “We want to keep the memory of
all those victims in our minds.”

Kupelian’s teenage niece, Susanna Manoukian, said, “I just like
our culture. It’s important for us to be here and remember.”

Carl Boloyan, a member of St. James Church who attended the
event with his wife and three children, said focusing on culture is
important.

“Armenians are spread out all over the world, so there are
certain things that they identify with – religion, language and
culture.

“We’re Armenian, so this is part of our life,” he said.

His three children each had a favorite part of the presentation.

“I liked Sayat Nova when they danced.” said Lucine, 8, who also
liked Zulal. Her brother, David, 7, and sister Anna, 5, both liked
the bell choir best.

“I just think every way to remember your culture is important,
no matter what,” said Louisa Ouzounian, a member of Sayat Nova.

Ouzounian said she appreciates that Sayat Nova has a chance to
participate in the memorial every year.

“It’s just one way to convey our culture to the younger
generation,” she said. “People always ask, ‘When are you gonna quit?’
– not till my body gives out.”

Another St. James member, Garo Yavshayan, helped bring the bell choir
in from the airport and wishes he had asked them more about their
music.

“I had never seen that before,” he said of the music. “That was
something! Interesting!.” Yavshayan will also be attending a large
Genocide commemoration program in New York on April 24.

Madeline Derderian, a resident whose mother was a survivor of
the Genocide, said she had come to the memorial, “to support all my
grandmothers and great-grandmothers.” Derderian said she was also
there to show her support for the political movement to get the world
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

“I wish someone would take a video of this crowd and show it to
the whole world. They should agree that this happened,” she said. “I
will come as long as I live to support this.

“If the baby doesn’t cry, it won’t get fed. It’s an Armenian
saying. It’s better in Armenian than English,” said Derderian.