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OC Community Honors Heroes from Khanasor to Lisbon
http://asbarez.com/104967/oc-community-honors-heroes-from-khanasor-to-lisbon/
Thursday, August23rd,
2012
| Posted by Contributor
OC community gathered to celebrate heroes
An Evening of Remembrance and Tribute to Our Fallen Heroes
BY HAGOP BADOLIAN
SANTA ANA - The most striking memory from the July 28 event honoring our
fallen heroes was how intently everyone was listening to the speakers and
presenters which took center stage one after the other. After all, the
audience knew that this was not just another gathering. They knew that they
were there to honor those countless men and women throughout our tumultuous
history that sacrificed their most precious asset: their lives. The evening
began with Talin Artinian welcoming the guests on behalf of the Armen Karo
Gomideh and the Armenian Center Committee.
She stated that the reason for the gathering is to remember and celebrate
the triumphant disciplinary act of the `Khanasor Arshavank', and pay
respect to the Lisbon 5 heroes, while on the other hand to raise funds for
the maintenance and renovation of the Armenian Center, which serves as a
home to Armenians in Orange County and over 100 youth. She reaffirmed the
fact that in the Diaspora, Armenians are known to build and survive; we are
known to stay true to our culture and literature and sing our sorrows and
victories. With that she invited the keynote speaker of the evening.
The keynote speaker, Hovig Saliba, began his speech with a moment of
silence, during which he read a representative list of names of the fallen
heroes that spanned from the `Gugunian' march towards freedom to the
liberation of Artsakh. In his speech, he presented the image of the
Armenian Freedom fighter, their dedication to the Armenian cause, and their
unwavering commitment to the advancement the Armenian cause.
Saliba bridged the gap from `Khanasor's' disciplinary act against the Kurds
to the sacrifice of the Lisbon Five and beyond by outlining the
ideological, political, and social forces that gave hope and courage to our
heroes to give their lives in order to revive the will in our people to
fight and struggle on for the freedom of the Armenian people.
A special requiem Mass was held on July 29
He concluded his remarks by pointing out that we are gathered here tonight
as a family to remember and honor our `children,' the fallen heroes and
embrace their legacy to carve our future. He stated that we are also here
tonight to follow in their footsteps and that the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation which remains the only viable organization; that the ARF
inspired the many before us and continues to be at the forefront of our
collective struggle; that the ARF will
continuethis
movement until such day when we as a nation dock on the shores of
prosperity and peace on a land that we'd like to call
Free,
Independent, and United Armenia.
Nora Injeian from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter, in a very moving speech,
echoed her late father's, Vahe Injeian's remarks that `the Armenian Center
is our second home.' She stated that the Armenian Center is a symbol of our
existence and therefore we have an obligation and a duty to preserve it.
Nora Gourdikian and Mher Zaher from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter presented
a slide show through which they recounted the historical facts of the
`Khanasor' disciplinary expedition and the Lisbon Five heroic act. They
reaffirmed the AYF's commitment to stay true to their calling, and that the
entire AYF in the Western United States has declared 2012 the year of the
Freedom Fighter. As such, they have launched a massive campaign and various
fundraisings to help families of our fallen heroes.
Alik Cherchian from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter delivered to the audience
the prelude to the Lisbon Five song written by Vicken Hovsepian. Araz
Madenlian spoke next on behalf of the Aghpiur Serop Badanegan organization.
In her remarks, she thanked the ARF Armen Karo Gomideh as well as their ARF
advisors and the supporting AYF members for their dedication and commitment
to the Badanees. She conveyed to the audience the pride and commitment of
the Badanees and the leadership skills they learn by coming to the Armenian
Center every Friday.
Nersig Inpirian then took over the stage and inspired everyone with his
stories and patriotic songs, which reminded everyone of our sorrows and
triumphs. But most importantly his songs surely touched the hearts of both
young and old and it re-energized everyone's will and commitment to step
up, care, and preserve the community's second home - our Armenian Center.
The next day, Sunday July 29, special requiem services were conducted at
Forty Martyr's Armenian church, where once again the community gathered to
remember and honor the heroes of Lisbon 5 - Simon, Sarkis, Vatche, Ara, and
Setrak.
http://asbarez.com/104967/oc-community-honors-heroes-from-khanasor-to-lisbon/
Thursday, August23rd,
2012
| Posted by Contributor
OC community gathered to celebrate heroes
An Evening of Remembrance and Tribute to Our Fallen Heroes
BY HAGOP BADOLIAN
SANTA ANA - The most striking memory from the July 28 event honoring our
fallen heroes was how intently everyone was listening to the speakers and
presenters which took center stage one after the other. After all, the
audience knew that this was not just another gathering. They knew that they
were there to honor those countless men and women throughout our tumultuous
history that sacrificed their most precious asset: their lives. The evening
began with Talin Artinian welcoming the guests on behalf of the Armen Karo
Gomideh and the Armenian Center Committee.
She stated that the reason for the gathering is to remember and celebrate
the triumphant disciplinary act of the `Khanasor Arshavank', and pay
respect to the Lisbon 5 heroes, while on the other hand to raise funds for
the maintenance and renovation of the Armenian Center, which serves as a
home to Armenians in Orange County and over 100 youth. She reaffirmed the
fact that in the Diaspora, Armenians are known to build and survive; we are
known to stay true to our culture and literature and sing our sorrows and
victories. With that she invited the keynote speaker of the evening.
The keynote speaker, Hovig Saliba, began his speech with a moment of
silence, during which he read a representative list of names of the fallen
heroes that spanned from the `Gugunian' march towards freedom to the
liberation of Artsakh. In his speech, he presented the image of the
Armenian Freedom fighter, their dedication to the Armenian cause, and their
unwavering commitment to the advancement the Armenian cause.
Saliba bridged the gap from `Khanasor's' disciplinary act against the Kurds
to the sacrifice of the Lisbon Five and beyond by outlining the
ideological, political, and social forces that gave hope and courage to our
heroes to give their lives in order to revive the will in our people to
fight and struggle on for the freedom of the Armenian people.
A special requiem Mass was held on July 29
He concluded his remarks by pointing out that we are gathered here tonight
as a family to remember and honor our `children,' the fallen heroes and
embrace their legacy to carve our future. He stated that we are also here
tonight to follow in their footsteps and that the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation which remains the only viable organization; that the ARF
inspired the many before us and continues to be at the forefront of our
collective struggle; that the ARF will
continuethis
movement until such day when we as a nation dock on the shores of
prosperity and peace on a land that we'd like to call
Free,
Independent, and United Armenia.
Nora Injeian from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter, in a very moving speech,
echoed her late father's, Vahe Injeian's remarks that `the Armenian Center
is our second home.' She stated that the Armenian Center is a symbol of our
existence and therefore we have an obligation and a duty to preserve it.
Nora Gourdikian and Mher Zaher from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter presented
a slide show through which they recounted the historical facts of the
`Khanasor' disciplinary expedition and the Lisbon Five heroic act. They
reaffirmed the AYF's commitment to stay true to their calling, and that the
entire AYF in the Western United States has declared 2012 the year of the
Freedom Fighter. As such, they have launched a massive campaign and various
fundraisings to help families of our fallen heroes.
Alik Cherchian from the AYF Ashod Yergat chapter delivered to the audience
the prelude to the Lisbon Five song written by Vicken Hovsepian. Araz
Madenlian spoke next on behalf of the Aghpiur Serop Badanegan organization.
In her remarks, she thanked the ARF Armen Karo Gomideh as well as their ARF
advisors and the supporting AYF members for their dedication and commitment
to the Badanees. She conveyed to the audience the pride and commitment of
the Badanees and the leadership skills they learn by coming to the Armenian
Center every Friday.
Nersig Inpirian then took over the stage and inspired everyone with his
stories and patriotic songs, which reminded everyone of our sorrows and
triumphs. But most importantly his songs surely touched the hearts of both
young and old and it re-energized everyone's will and commitment to step
up, care, and preserve the community's second home - our Armenian Center.
The next day, Sunday July 29, special requiem services were conducted at
Forty Martyr's Armenian church, where once again the community gathered to
remember and honor the heroes of Lisbon 5 - Simon, Sarkis, Vatche, Ara, and
Setrak.