Ararat Home Commemorates Armenian Genocide Centennial with a “CELEBRATION OF LIFE”
Centenarian generation represented by the future generation of Armenians
Ararat Home had the unique opportunity and privilege to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian genocide by celebrating the lives of 12 centenarians residing at the Home. On Sunday, March 15, approximately 450 guests gathered at Deukmejian Ballroom for a special program honoring 12 extraordinary individuals born between 1906 and 1915. Two of the honorees are among the few remaining survivors and witnesses of the Armenian genocide. However, all the honorees have experienced life with moments of triumph, sorrow, joy, pain and fulfillment. Their remarkable lives were presented by students from 11 Los Angeles area Armenian day schools. After the reading of each honoree’s biography, students beautifully recited poems composed by treasured Armenian writers that illustrate the enduring spirit of the Armenian people. The symbolic representation of Armenian centenarians by members of the future generation of Armenians was truly poignant.
Keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education, spoke of the importance of celebrating life in the face of the most heinous of crimes in the 20th century. He reaffirmed that there is no better revenge to genocide than to celebrate life lived in full with the highest values of humanity as exemplified by the 12 honorees.
Keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Smith
Dr. Smith presented clips of several eyewitness testimonies representing the nearly 400 interviews that were filmed by J. Michael Hagopian, digitized by the Armenian Film Foundation and recently obtained by the USC Shoah Foundation to be catalogued in its Visual History Archive and released for public viewing beginning on April 24, 2015. Dr. Smith asserted that the greatest power against denial is the voice of those who can say, “I was there.” He said that as the memory of survivors moves into history, “now the responsibility becomes ours to take forward that message they have left with us, to use it, to teach with it, to inspire others to celebrate life, not to dwell on death; because that, surely, is the way in which [genocide] prevention will really be possible.”
The 12 Ararat Home honorees recorded their message to future generations of Armenians in a touching video prepared by Ani Hovannisian Kevorkian. A producer, director and writer, Mrs. Kevorkian also presented a portion of her video interview with one of the honorees, Yevnige Salibian, who movingly recounted her story of survival during the genocide. Ararat Home Board of Trustees Chairman Joseph Kanimian, Esq. presented honorees with special recognition certificates from President Barack Obama, Governor Jerry Brown, U.S. Representative Brad Sherman, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan.
The program, which was emceed by Gerald Papazian, Chairman of the Armenian Film Foundation Board of Directors, was further enriched by several artistic presentations. Tenor Raffi Kerbabian opened the event by singing the national anthems of the United States and the Republic of Armenia, and later, his wonderful renditions of Yeraz Im Yerkir Hayreni and Kilikia accompanied the entrance of honorees into the hall, where they were greeted by standing ovations. Dr. Vatche Mankerian played two exquisite pieces on the piano, one of which is his own composition, Suite After Komitas. The program concluded with beautiful dance performances by Hamazkayin Nairi Dance Group.