On the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, under the auspices of H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the United States, a student march was held in observance of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The student march was organized by the administration of Armenian Mesrobian School in Montebello, which brought together approximately 1,400 upper-grade students from Armenian day schools across the Greater Los Angeles area. In attendance at the April 24th commemoration ceremony were members of the Western Prelacy Executive Council, Mr. Sarkis Ourfalian, Chairperson of the Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools, along with members of the Board of Regents, school principals, educators, and community leaders.
The student march, dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, began at Armenian Mesrobian School, paused at Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of Montebello for prayer, and continued to the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument. At the monument, students laid wreaths and flowers in memory of the 1.5 million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
A special Requiem Service was offered with the participation of clergy members. Following the service, H.E. Archbishop Kegham Khacherian delivered a heartfelt message, reflecting on the three dimensions of time, past, present, and future, in the context of national memory and identity. Addressing the students gathered around the monument, H.E. Archbishop Khacherian emphasized that the past is embedded in the collective memory of the Armenian people, affirming that the Armenian Genocide is an irrefutable historical documented truth. Today, the Prelate stated, we not only remember the past, but through the presence and participation of our youth, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice. H.E. Archbishop Khacherian urged the students to carry the torch of remembrance and the spirit of justice into the future, inspiring future generations, their children and grandchildren, to continue the sacred mission of seeking justice for the Armenian Cause, until the rightful restitution of the territorial, cultural, spiritual, and economic losses suffered by Western Armenians is achieved.
The day’s keynote speaker was Mr. Jack Hadjinian, member of the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy. Remarks were also delivered by Ms. Lena Garabedian, Principal of Armenian Mesrobian School, and Mr. Chris Guldjian, Chairperson of the Armenian Mesrobian School Board.
