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Armenian Genocide Commemorated at Times Square
NEW YORK
The 16th annual Armenian Genocide commemoration in Times Square was held on Sunday, April 22nd. More than 1,000 people packed into Times Square to listen to the many government officials addressing the crowd on the importance of remembering and recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
The event, which was sponsored by Knights and Daughters of Vartan of the NY/NJ region, started at 2 p.m. and lasted until about 5 p.m. The Armenian Radio Hour of NJ was on hand, for the first time, for a live remote broadcast from Times Square. The listening audience who could not make it to Times Square had an opportunity to listen to the speeches as they were heard over theArmenian Radio Hour of NJ.
Following members of the U.S. Congress attended the commemoration on Sundayand addressed the attentive crowd: Representatives Joseph Crowley, Carolyn Maloney, Frank Pallone, Anthony Weiner, and John E. Sweeney. Also present were New York City Comptroller, and Democratic mayoral candidate in the primary, Alan Hevesi, New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone along with otherpublic officials.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) of the 6th Congressional district of NJ, afriend of the Armenian people, is also very strong supporter of Armenian issues, as well as the co-chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. "Those of us who are members of the Armenian Caucus in the United States Congress will not rest until the day comes when we pass the Genocide recognition resolution in the United States and have it signed by the president of the United States." He also said that he wishes to be back at Times Square with all Armenian one day soon as Turkey officially recognizes the Genocide and peace is achieved in the Nagorno-Karabagh region.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of the 14th Congressional District of NY, recognized and commended the work done by the Armenian Assembly and the efforts to build a Genocide memorial museum in Washington D.C., and also called for a similar museum in New York City. She aslo said she hopes to see in the near future, the US. government follow in the footsteps of the French government and officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) who represents the 7th Congressional district, which includes the large Armenian community of Queens, announced that his office is sponsoring a Town Hall style meeting between the Armenian community and US Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh, US Department of State Special Negotiator on Nagorno-Karabagh and New Independent States Regional Conflicts. The event is also sponsored by the Armenian National Committees of NY and NJ, and will take place on Sunday, April 29th 4-6 p.m. at the Armenian Center in Woodside, Queens. Ambassador Cavanaugh will discuss recent negotiations to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ambassador Cavanaugh recently led the host delegation at the international peace talks between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Haidar Aliyev in Key West, Florida. The Program is free and open to the public. The program will include remarks by Congressman Joseph Crowley as well as a question-and-answer session. For NJ residents interested in attending the April 29 program, a bus will be departing from Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Ridgefield, NJ, at 2:45 p.m. The bus will return that evening, after the program's conclusion.
In addition to the US Congressmen who addressed the crowd at Times Square under sunny skies, were academicians Harvard Professor James Russell of Jewish decent, who speaks fluent Armenian and holds the Armenian Chair at Harvard University, addressed the crowd on the work being done by the academicians and historians to bring about recognition, and Professor Jonathan Lewis, also of Jewish background spoke of the importance of Jews and Armenian embracing their common heritage.
Also present was Ms. Thea Halo, the author of the acclaimed book, "Not Even My Name", spoke about her book which relates the true story of a young girl's experiences during the Armenian Genocide. She tells the unforgettable journey from the horrors of the deportation to a new home in America. Ms. Halo's parents are of Greek and Assyrian decent.
Other notable speakers included two officials from the Armenian Assembly of America, Ross Vartian and Hrant Jamgochian. Mr. Vartian, former Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly, and currently the Director of Planning for the Armenian Genocide Museum in Washington, D.C. spoke about the progress and present status of the Museum and its future plans. Mr. Jamgochian, Director of Development for the Armenian Assembly, spoke about the present status of the Genocide bills before the U.S. Congress and the work that remains to be done to bring about recognition.
By the end of the ceremonies, the 86th annual commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide sent a strong and powerful message to everyone who
happened to be in the vicinity of Times Square. The work toward
recognition is not done, but is moving forward strong and steadfast.
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