Preserve Your Heritage with Learn About Armenia -- Emma's Gold Award Project

the armenian genocide

I am Armenian.

My great grandfather escaped Armenia during the Armenian Genocide, fleeing from the attackers who were silencing Armenians. He came to the United States and started his own family where my grandfather was born. And then came my dad.

Many people are unaware of the terrifying eight years (1915-1923) during which the Ottoman Empire diminished the Armenian population by over 1.5 million people.

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity, become a Christian state and preach their religious beliefs in the first churches and monasteries. However, Armenia's influence on our present-day culture remains unnoticed by the majority, since those responsible for their cultural, geographical and religious destruction failed to take responsibility and make amends. Consequently, Armenians are continually being persecuted and discriminated against due to the lack of public awareness, news coverage and resources necessary to survive.

I am a proud Armenian, and I want others to become aware of how impactful Armenia has been in shaping the world and our lives today.

How has the Armenian Genocide impacted these speakers?

Gerard kassabian - Armenian Attorney

"Let’s say we go to do a DNA test and on that DNA test they have a family tree."

"I started filling this out. I couldn’t go beyond my grandmother’s parents, and the answers came thanks to my parents, but they didn’t know anything beyond that."

Diran Bohajian - Armenian Priest

"The Ottoman government wanted to exterminate the Armenians but they failed because wherever Armenians went throughout the world, the first thing that they did is they came together... and the first thing that they would do is build a church because that defines who we are."

"Our culture...our heritage...our faith is all defined in our relationship with God."

"If the world would have taken seriously the genocide of 1915, other genocides would not have taken place."

Lucy Janjigian - Armenian Artist

"When the exhibit finished and was in these three cities, I said, 'Wow! I can tell my father's story and my mother's story.' "

"I have 19 paintings on the Armenian Genocide."