DENVER, Colo.—On Friday April 20, 2012, the Colorado General Assembly unanimously voiced their approval for the 11th annual Armenian Genocide Resolution, designating April 24 as Colorado Day of Remembrance of The Armenian Genocide. The resolution was spearheaded by Armenians  of Colorado (AOC) Genocide Commemoration Committee chairperson, Kim Christianian in 2002, with the help of committee members Ken Allikian and Simon Maghakyan. “Each year we update the language of the resolution to bring awareness to the continuous injustices that are placed on the Christian minorities in Turkey,” says Christianian. Last year, Colorado led the states with language in their resolution calling for the return of Christian properties confiscated during the genocide. “This year, we added language about the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which named Turkey as one of the 16 most egregious and systematic violators of religious freedom in the world,” says Christianian.

State Senator Lois Tochtrop has been the primary sponsor of the resolution since 2002, back when she was a State Representative in the House. “We have had several House sponsors over the years, but for last two years we have had Representative Su Ryden as our advocate in the House chamber,” says, Ken Allikian.

In addition to the annual resolution, AOC has for thirty years obtained annual Mayoral and Gubernatorial Armenian Genocide commemorative proclamations. This year, the proclamations were submitted by AOC board member, Rafael Saakyan.

The resolution was followed by the annual commemoration ceremony on Sunday April 22, organized by AOC and the Genocide Commemoration Committee. Simon Maghakyan acted as MC and the guest speakers included Senator Lois Tochtrop and Representive Su Ryden. Reverend Father Zaven Markosyan delivered the invocation in the Senate and at the commemoration ceremony. A crowd of over 150 attended the ceremony held in The Armenian Garden located on the State Capitol grounds where there is a dedicated commemorative headstone and evergreen tree. The garden was established with the support of the Armenian community and AOC in April 1982. “We are very fortunate to have our own piece of land on the Capitol grounds,” says Sona Hedeshian, president of AOC. “We’ll be working to make enhancements to the site in time for the centennial in 2015”.

Click here for the 2012 Colorado Armenian Genocide Resolution.

Armenians of Colorado Presents

“The Changing Landscape of Historic Western Armenia:
Reflect ions on a Journey Into the Past”

by Dr. Richard Hovannisian
Professor of Modern Armenian History, UCLA

Saturday, May 5, 2012 6:30PM
Pinnacle Clubroom Tower Two
2990 East 17th Avenue in Denver

The landscape of Historic Western Armenia is ever changing. The mystical names of the villages, towns, and provinces of a now-vanished generation remain deeply imbedded in the minds and hearts of many descendants. But how similar are the imagined homeland and the existing landscape?

After many years of hesitation, Dr. Richard Hovannisian set out on a quest to reconcile the “imagined” with the “real.” His travels took him through a part of the historic provinces from Trebizond and Samsun on the Black Sea to Baiburt, Erzerum, Kemakh, Agn, Sebastia, Amasia, Kharpert, Mush, Diarbekir, Bitlis, Van, Kars, and Ani. He will present his impressions in an illustrated presentation in this special event for the Armenian Community of Colorado.

Dr. Hovannisian is the author of the four-volume history The Republic of Armenia, Armenia on the Road to Independence, and has edited and contributed to more than twenty books including The Armenian Image in History and Literature, The Armenian Genocide in Perspective, The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times, Remembrance and Denial, Looking Backward, Moving Forward, and eleven volumes on historic Armenian cities and provinces, the most recent of which is Armenian Kars and Ani.

A reception will immediately follow the program.
Many of Prof. Hovannisian’s available titles will be available for signing.

DENVER, Colo.—On Sat., March 10, 2012, more than 70 educators and students participated in a workshop titled “Why Studying the Armenian Genocide Matters Today,” to learn about how to incorporate the Armenian Genocide into school curricula across Colorado. The workshop was a collaboration between Facing History and Ourselves (FHAO) and Armenians of Colorado, Inc. (AOC).

“This has been in the works for over a year,” said Kim Christianian, chair of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee for AOC. “We didn’t know what to expect and we were thrilled to see how enthusiastic the teachers were about teaching the subject in their history classes,” she said.

“Professor [Peter] Balakian really fed our teachers well,” said FHAO regional director Dave Fulton. “We’re anxious to have him back.”

The workshop concluded with the showing of a 10-minute documentary entitled “The Armenian Genocide and the Treaty of Sevre,” made by student Alik Christianian for 2011 History Day. She was awarded first place for the film in the state of Colorado last year and competed in Washington, D.C., in the middle school category.

The Saturday workshop was part of a series of educational events in Colorado. Balakian started the weekend at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where he read from his latest book of poems Ziggurat for the Creative Writing Program Reading Series.

On Sun., March 11, AOC hosted a talk and book signing with Balakian titled “Literary Memory and Catastrophe: from the Armenian Genocide to 9/11.” The event was held at the Tattered Cover and drew a large crowd from both the Denver and Boulder area.

The weekend lectures were organized by the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee for AOC. April events include an annual resolution designating April 24 as the Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. “This is will be the 11^th year that we have had this resolution in place,” said Kim Christianian, who spearheaded the initiative with the help of committee members Ken Allikian and Simon Maghakyan. “We have seen the effect of these grass-root efforts on our Congressional delegation and believe that it is only a matter of time that the Armenian Genocide gets its proper recognition at the national level,” she said.

Pictured left to right: Walter Logue, Anahid Katchian-Logue, Shoghig Vayedjian, Kim Christianian, Peter Balakian, Hasmik Nikoghosyan, and Simon Maghakyan

Friday, March 16, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Willow Creek Clubhouse
8387 East Jamison Circle, Centennial, CO 80112
Potluck dinner and beverages will be provided by AOC
FREE and open to the AOC community

Peter Balakian will speak on Literary Memory and Catastrophe: from the Armenian Genocide to 9/11…
Sunday March 11, 3:00-5:00 pm
Tattered Cover LoDo
1628 16th Street, Denver

There will be a book signing and introduction to his latest book of poems Ziggurat
Free and open to the public

AOC Special Reception for Peter Balakian
Sunday March 11, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Pinnacle Clubroom Tower Two
2990 East 17th Avenue in Denver 

Savory appetizers, sweets, and beverages
Join us following the Tattered Cover event for an evening with Peter Balakian

Click HERE for directions from Tattered Cover to the Pinnacle

Sponsored by Facing History and Ourselves
FREE and open to the public
Click HERE to RSVP

Creative Writing Program Reading Series
Colorado State University
Special Guest: Peter Balakian
Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 7:30 pm
University Art Museum, University Center for the Arts
1400 Remington Street in Fort Collins
FREE and open to the public

Click HERE for more information

We would also like to give thanks to all the contributors to the silent auction and raffle who made this event a success!  Click here to see the sponsor list.