2,000 Remember Armenian Hero Soghomon Tehlirian

By Ara Khachatourian

FRESNO, CA--More than 2,000 Armenian-Americans from across California gathered on March 16, 2002 at the monument commemorating the great Armenian hero Soghomon Tehlirian to pay homage to the memory of his heroic act of justice. On March 15, 1921, Tehlirian assassinated Talaat Pasha, the mastermind behind the Armenian Genocide, on a street in Berlin, Germany. Tehlirian was subsequently tried for the crime and found not guilty.

This day of remembrance began as some 1,500 people boarded buses at the various Armenian centers and churches and headed for Fresno on a singular pilgrimage, at the conclusion of which the community's commitment to justice was renewed. It was clear that each person that boarded the buses was there for a purpose--to commemorate and remember Tehlirian and his contribution to the Armenian Cause. From Orange County to the San Fernando Valley, the fervor and excitement was apparent from the onset of the trip to Fresno, which lasted over five hours and culminated in an impressive parade through the streets of Fresno, all the way to the Ararat and Massis cemeteries, where the Tehlirian monument stands at the center.

A program at the foot of the monument began with a procession of scouts from the local Fresno Homenetmen chapters and the laying of a wreath. This solemn moment was followed by a requiem mass officiated by Rev. Vahan Gostanian of the Fresno parish, Rev. Nareg Pehlivanian of the Pasadena parish, and Rev. Gomidas Torosian.

Mher Chekherdemian, the chairman of the local Armenian Revolutionary Federation 'Tehlirian' gomideh welcomed the crowd and introduced master of ceremonies Haygo Ohanessian, the chairperson of the local Armenian National Committee chapter.

Those gathered at the monument were treated to a first-hand impression of Tehlirian from veteran ARF member Hagop Manjikian, who on behalf of the ARF Western US Central Committee called on the participants to support the ANCA in its mission to attain international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the just aspirations of the Armenian people. Manjikian remembered his days with Tehlirian in Fresno and recounted the hero's own humble impressions of his act, and praised him for preserving the Armenian national dignity.

Also speaking at the event was Republican nominee for the 29th Assembly district Steve Samuelian, who earlier this month won the primary election. Samuelian emphasized the importance of ANCA activities and urged each participant to join the unwavering effort to garner international recognition of the Genocide. He also praised the modern-day heroes of the Armenian Cause who relentlessly fought for the liberation of Nagorno Karabagh. He said that those fighters and heroes took a page from the Tehlirian legacy and persevered in the name of the Armenian Cause.

The keynote speaker of the event, Norair Elsayan, a veteran ARF member and long-time former editor of the Alik newspaper who now resides in Armenia, called attention to the importance of the Tehlirian legacy, especially since today many in the international community, in collusion with Turkey, are adamantly denying the Armenian Genocide.

Participating in the pilgrimage were members of the ARF Western US Central Committee, representatives of affiliated organizations, and Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian. Following the official part of the program, the participants placed flowers at the monument and later converged on the Fresno Armenian center to enjoy a lunch hosted by the Fresno ARF gomideh, which also took the participants on a tour of important sites in Fresno, including the David of Sassoun statue, Saroyan Hall, and the Holy Trinity Armenian church.