The Albequerqee Journal

Monday, April 30, 2007

Armenian Community Honors 1.5 Million Who Died in Genocide

By Sunnie Redhouse
Journal Staff Writer

A Sunday commemoration of the April 1915-1917 Armenian genocide was
more than a way to remember those who suffered and to honor the few
who survived.

It was a chance for the Armenian community and its guests to
acknowledge the genocide they say is often overlooked.

"It happened; it’s a real thing," said Harry Kassakhian, deacon of the
Armenian Mission Church of New Mexico.

About 100 people were expected to attend the morning service, luncheon
and a concert performed by a group of teenage musicians from Armenia,
a former Soviet republic that shares a border with Turkey.

The service was given by the Rev. Mikael Kyuregyan of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church in North America, based in Los Angeles.

Kassakhian said that, out of the 1.5 million Armenians killed in the
genocide that lasted from 1915 to 1917, many survivors fled to the
United States and three live in New Mexico.

The three were unable to attend the event.

Kassakhian said a group known as "Young Turks," organized and ordered
by the Turkish government, carried out the mass murders of the
Armenian people.

"The idea was to create a society that was completely Turkish," he
said.

Lucy Nalbandian said it’s important for people to remember the
Armenian genocide but more important for them to remember the Armenian
people.

"A lot of people don’t know about us," she said, "and if you don’t
remind people, they’ll forget about it."

Al Hachigian, whose grandparents were among the victims, said acts of
genocide everywhere will only continue.

"It’s not going to go away," Hachigian said. "All we ask is that the
Turkish government acknowledges that they acted in an inhumane
manner."

Hachigian said that, for him, the commemoration was "to remember those
who can’t join us."

"That’s what today is all about," he said.