April 23rd

April 23rd was quite interesting for me this year. The genocide commemorations started for me at 5:30pm at Artbridge, where they were introducing a new booklet - "24", about 24 genocide survivors who came to Armenia after the genocide and stayed. Since Armenianow started the project, 7 of the survivors have passed away. One survivor was present, and just to be in his presence was a very powerful thing... that direct connection. He gave a very brief summary of his life - including how rich they were in Western Armenia, as judging by the number of cows and goats. After he was finished talking, he interrupted someone to add something. And now for the first time he became very emotional. He said how extremely thankful he was to the American people. When he came to Armenia - every single person from the older generation was dead except his mother, who could no longer keep him. So he went into an orphanage, around 1920, and stayed for 10 years. This orphanage kept him until he was 20 years old. It was funded wholly by donations by ordinary Americans... Soviet Union or no, they gave, and saved many Armenian children. Balakian's latest book did an excellent job of documenting the massive amount of private aid given at that time... something amazing to this day.

At 8:30pm I went to the big Tashnag torch lit youth rally at Opera. It was the first time I went to this, and it was kind of weird... it was like being in front of the Turkish Embassy in LA. I prefer the solemn commemoration of the 24th - at least in Armenia. I watched and took some pics until they headed off to Tsitsernakaberd in the rain. Then at midnight I headed to Tsitsernakaberd with some friends... it was really nice at that hour. A small group of young were there, reciting poetry with loud, sure voices. Others just came and lay flowers, and stopped to listen to the recitations. It was really beautiful in the dark, with the flame illuminating the 13 massive slabs, meant to represent the 13 provinces of Western Armenia, huddled around a flame for heat and protection...