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Freeway signs in Montebello take note of Armenian genocide

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  • Freeway signs in Montebello take note of Armenian genocide

    Freeway signs in Montebello take note of Armenian genocide

    The signs next to the Pomona Freeway direct motorists to the Armenian
    Genocide Martyrs Monument, which draws thousands of Armenians each
    April 24 to commemorate the 1915 massacre. Armenians say a freeway
    marker could lead to wider acknowledgement of the deaths of 1.5
    million.

    At an emotional ceremony, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the
    Armenian Apostolic Church blesses a new sign along the 60 Freeway.
    (Bob Chamberlin, Los Angeles Times / April 1, 2011)

    By Bob Pool, Los Angeles Times

    April 2, 2011

    It's only a sign.

    But the large green message board unveiled next to the Pomona Freeway
    packed an emotional punch for those gathered Friday in Montebello.

    "Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument Next Exit," it reads.

    A pair of the directional signs, authorized by the state Legislature,
    point the way to a memorial tower above Garfield Avenue that
    commemorates the attempt a century ago to eliminate Armenians from the
    Ottoman Empire.

    People of Armenian descent from throughout Los Angeles gathered
    beneath the tower to thank state officials for recognizing their
    history - and for perhaps leading the way to what they hope is wider
    acknowledgement of the massacre of 1.5 million people.

    Leaders of modern-day Turkey dispute the "genocide" label. The United
    States, worried about U.S.-Turkish relations, has not taken a formal
    position on the subject.

    The directional signs will likely send "shockwaves" through those who
    fail to recognize the impact that the killings and deportations still
    have on Armenians around the world, said Grigor Hovhannisyan,
    Armenia's consul general.

    "This is an international event that will be heard around the world,"
    agreed Levon Kirakosian, a Glendale lawyer who helped organize the
    ceremony.

    "These words are now nailed on the wall for all to see."

    Legislation authorizing the signs was authored by state Assemblyman
    Charles Calderon (D-Whittier), who recalled growing up in Montebello
    and being influenced by his boyhood best friend's Armenian
    grandmother.

    "This is not just another freeway sign," Calderon told the crowd of about 200.

    The six-legged memorial tower, dedicated in 1968, draws thousands of
    Armenians each April 24 to commemorate the 1915 massacre. Calderon
    described the tower as "a beacon that stands in the night" for human
    rights.

    Although there are few living survivors of the massacre - ceremony
    organizers say one of them, Montebello resident Hrant Zeitounzian, was
    100 when he died Wednesday - Los Angeles-area Armenians labor to keep
    their history alive among younger generations.

    "We're here today because of the hard work of our grandparents and
    great-grandparents," said Kevork Tutunjian, a 25-year-old writer from
    Glendale. "I'll make sure this monument resonates with my
    great-grandkids."

    Garabed Armoudikian, 61, a Pasadena service station operator, held
    Armenian and American flags as he watched the ceremony. He predicted
    that the display will prompt discussion among those who travel the
    Pomona Freeway and who may be unaware of Armenian history.

    And that's a good sign, Armoudikian said.

    [email protected]

    Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

    http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-montebello-armenian-sign-20110402,0,2490459.story




    From: A. Papazian
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