Burbank, CA – On Saturday, April 22, 2023, ANCA Burbank held a Press Conference and Flower Laying Ceremony at Burbank City Hall commemorating the 108th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Approximately 80 people, including ANCA Burbank board members, ARS Araz Chapter, Homentmen Sipan Chapter, friends, Burbank Armenian Association and supporters, as well as elected city officials gathered at the steps of Burbank City Hall to express their solidarity and lay flowers on a memorial dedicated to the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915.
The event began with the Homenetmen Scouts proudly placing the flags of United States of America, Armenia, California and Artsakh on the steps of City Hall next to the Genocide Memorial display, which was designed by and built by the Homentmen Sipan Chapter Scouts.
The ANCA Burbank Chairman, Sarkis Simonian, began with opening remarks, noting that “For Armenians, the Genocide never ended and continues to this day as evidenced by the war in Artsakh in 2020 and continued aggression as Azerbaijan has blockaded 120,000 trapped in Artsakh”.
Chairman Simonian proceeded by introducing the following elected officials and inviting them to the podium for remarks: Representative for Congressman Adam Schiff Mary Hovagimyan, California Treasurer Fiona Ma, Senator Anthony Portantino, 25th District, Representative of Senator Caroline Menjivar 20th District James Roy, Assemblymember Laura Friedman; Representative of Supervisor Kathryn Barger 5th District David Dry, Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony who also read statements from Vice-Mayor Nick Schultz and Burbank Council member Nikki Perez and BUSD Board Member Dr. Armond Aghakhanian who was flanked by BUSD Board members Emily Weisberg and Abbey Pontzer.
ANCA Burbank members thanked everyone in attendance, including the Burbank Police Department, the City of Burbank, and the Burbank Unified School District for issuing the Armenian Genocide Proclamation and lighting City Hall with the colors of the Armenian Flag.
The event was proceeded by a flower laying ceremony, where each guest was given a flower to place at the memorial, which was a small-scale replica of Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex built in 1967 in Yerevan, on a smaller scale.
The Armenian National Committee of America–Burbank advances the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the area’s Armenian community and promotes its increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
