Armenian Genocide Monument Inaugurated In Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS””On Saturday, November 14, Armenians from Las Vegas and beyond gathered at Sunset Park for the unveiling and dedication of a monument that pays tribute to the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The monument project was erected by the initiative of the Armenian-American Cultural Society (AACS) of Las Vegas, with the participation of all Las Vegas Armenian churches and organizations, and by the approval of the Clark County Commission.

In her opening remarks, Master of Ceremonies Lenna Hovanessian described the AACS initiative and efforts to bring this project to fruition, which was originally conceived almost 10 years ago. She then invited Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, to deliver the invocation and their message. The Archbishops asked the guests to rise in observance of a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris a day earlier.

Valery Mkrtumian, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, conveyed his message and congratulated the Armenian-American community of Las Vegas for their collective efforts in achieving this dream.

Clark County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, in whose district Sunset Park lies, stated that although the Armenian community is funding the monument project, “the entire Las Vegas community benefits because this monument allows our citizens to come to know and learn about this very sordid and shocking chapter in world history. I’m happy that the County could partner with the Armenian community to bring this project to fruition.”