Montebello remembers Armenian genocide
By Pam Wight Staff Writer

Pasadena Star-News, CA
Whittier Daily News, CA
April 20 2006

MONTEBELLO – Talking about the 1915 Armenian genocide is not just an
abstract history lesson for Montebello resident Jack Hadjinian.

Thirty members of his family were murdered under the rule of the Young
Turks between the years of 1915 and 1917, when the Turkish government
killed 1.5 million Armenians. The Young Turks government was part of
Turkey’s multi-century Ottoman Empire, which fell in 1922.

Hadjinian’s grandfather – who was 13 at the time – escaped after
watching Turkish soldiers murder his father and uncle. His family
later made their way to Detroit and eventually to Montebello, home
to one of the largest populations of Armenians outside of Armenia.

This weekend, Hadjinian will join hundreds of other members of
Montebello’s Armenian diaspora to commemorate the 91st anniversary
of the genocide. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to appear at
Sunday’s event, although his office had not confirmed the appearance
as of Wednesday, event organizers said.

State Sen. Chuck Poochigian will be the keynote speaker, and Sen.

Jackie Speier will act as master of ceremonies.

” means so much to me,” Hadjinian said. “My grandfather cried every
year at it. He witnessed the murder of his father and uncle.

“The Turkish soldiers pulled him out of his house, had him stand on
his knees and then made him look the other way while they shot his
father and uncle. My grandfather was 13.”