YOUNG AND OLD IN LOWELL CARRY MESSAGE: NEVER FORGET ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Ed Burns, Sun Correspondent

Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
April 26, 2009 Sunday

LOWELL — Almost a century has past since the Armenian Genocide,
but local descendents of those who survived are determined not to
let the horrors be forgotten by history.

They rallied in front of City Hall yesterday to commemorate the 94th
anniversary of the genocide, which is generally estimated to have
claimed 1.5 million lives.

To this day, many countries, including the United States, have not
officially recognized the genocide. This upsets many in the Armenian
community, including Gregory Arabian of Belmont.

quot;We are not interested in committees. We are not interested
in investigations. We are not interested in anything other than
recognition of historical fact,quot; Arabian told the crowd.

The only reason the genocide has not been officially recognized by
the United States, he said, is that it has been politically expedient
to avoid the issue.

But many at the ceremony said this failure to deal with past issues
is the reason why things like this still happen today in places
like Darfur.

quot;There’s unfinished business,quot; said John Dagdigian, of the
Armenian National Committee of Merrimack Valley. quot;It’s unbelievable
that this kind of thing can still happen.quot;

Dagdigian said his grandparents, who survived the genocide, told him
stories about the Turkish troops coming into towns and arresting any
able-bodied men.

The Armenian Genocide began in 1915, during World War I. The Ottoman
Empire, which was officially a Muslim state, was distrustful of its
Christian Armenian citizens, and blamed them for defeats against
the Russians.

The Turkish army began rounding up Armenians, who were then either
forced to march to the deserts of Syria or executed.

City Councilor Alan Kazanjian said it is important for the Armenian
community to remember these events, even as they fall further in the
past, especially for their children.

quot;We have to bring it on to our children and don’t let them
forget,quot; he said.

Many at the ceremony spoke of the importance of passing on their
stories to their children. The ceremony culminated as a group of
children raised the red, blue and orange of the Armenian flag outside
City Hall.