BURBANK, Calif.—The Burbank community commemorated the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Tuesday, April 7, when the Burbank City Council presented its annual Proclamation in Recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Following the City Council’s proclamation, hundreds of community members, braving the rain, marched towards the ACF Beshir Mardirossian Burbank Youth Center, where an evening program commemorating the Armenian Genocide took place.
Representatives from the Armenian Youth Federation and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation spoke to the audience gathered at the Center about the centennial of the Armenian Genocide and its importance for the Armenian people worldwide.
Vaché Thomassian, on behalf of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, spoke about the importance of fighting for justice for the Armenian Genocide and the responsibility to help prevent such crimes against humanity in the future by recognizing and bringing to justice those that happened in the past.
The evening’s program also featured a performance of traditional Armenian dances by a local group who work to teach and preserve Armenian dance. The local Homenetmen “Sipan” Chapter scouts and AYF Junior “Gaidzak” Chapter members also performed an Armenian revolutionary song, while Ariga Amirian, a member of the AYF Burbank “Varak” Chapter recited a poem by Siamanto, “The Dance.”
The evening was concluded with a candlelight vigil at the courtyard of the Center led by the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Armen Artinian.