PASADENA, Calif.—More than 700 people attended a ground blessing ceremony at the site for the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial on Sunday, April 27, during a public ceremony at Memorial Park.

 

The presentation of colors was conducted by Homenetmen Azadamard Chapter. Retired U.S. District Court Judge Dickran M. Tevrizian served as Master of Ceremonies and consecration of the ground was performed by Hovnan Derderian, Archbishop of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

There were musical performances by choirs from the Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School in Altadena and the Armenian General Benevolent Union High School in Pasadena.

Student speakers included Alex Berberian, a senior at Pasadena High School, and Daniel Mouradian, a freshman at AGBU High School.

 

Tagoui Arzoumanian recited the poem “Menk and the Dance” and Eric Chilingazyan, a young child, recited the poem “My Armenia.”

Federal, state and local elected officials as well as dignitaries from community organisations, churches and schools participated in the event as well.

The Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial, approved by the Pasadena City Council in September 2013, will be completed and dedicated at the north side of Memorial Park in April 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of the killing of 1.5 million Armenians over a three-year period beginning in 1915. It will commemorate the Armenian Genocide and condemn all crimes against humanity

For more information about the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial visit www.PASAGMC.org or PASAGMC on Facebook.