BOSTON — The Armenian community of the Boston area and many prominent government representatives from Massachusetts came together for the 101st anniversary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at the Massachusetts State House on April 22. As many as 275 people filled the House Chamber. Massachusetts State Rep. Jonathan Hecht of Watertown and Cambridge served as the master of ceremonies for a nearly two-hour program of music, awards and speeches.
The commemoration began with the procession of elected officials and clergy led by Homenetmen scouts. After an invocation in Armenian by Monsignor Andon Atamian of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Cross, state Rep. John Lawn of Watertown (standing in for Rep. David Rogers whose mother was sick in Philadelphia) led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the children of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School sang America the Beautiful and Mer hayrenik, the Armenian national anthem.
Hecht summed up the goal of the program after first recalling the centennial commemoration last year. He said, “seeing that huge crowd, and that see of American and Armenian flags, was one of the most moving and powerful experiences of my public life. This year we are back in the House Chamber with a continued, indeed, a strengthened commitment, to honor the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, to demand recognition and justice for the Genocidal crimes committed by the Ottoman Empire, to dedicate ourselves to prevent the recurrence of genocide anywhere in the world, and to celebrate the remarkable triumph and spirit of the Armenian people.”
Before handing over the podium, Hecht praised Speaker Robert A. DeLeo for his enormous assistance with holding the commemoration in the State House and for personally participating every single year.
DeLeo said that he was introduced to the Armenian Genocide through leaders like his predecessor George Keverian. He referred to Peter Balakian’s book, The Burning Tigris, which informed him about American aid to Armenians during World War I, and his encounter with Armenian Heritage Park architect Donald Tellalian. Like the symbolism of the sculpture there, DeLeo said, he hoped that events such as the State House commemoration will allow people throughout the world to fully recognize the atrocities which befell the Armenians as genocide, as that would allow “a new phase of healing.”
DeLeo concluded, “While we remember those who perished, we must vow to carry on their legacy, to ensure that the world never forgets. As humans, as Americans, we must ensure that human spirit outshines inhumanity. Today’s commemoration will help us renew that commitment.”
