The Sardarabad Monument (Photo by Matthew Karanian)
Ninety-Eight years ago on May 28 Armenia became independent after living under occupation and oppression for centuries. Still reeling from and in the throes of the Armenian Genocide, the heroic battles of Sardarabad, Bash-Abaran and Gharakilise cemented the Armenian will for survival and perseverance that echoed their desire for self-determination and freedom.
This year, Armenian Independence Day is being marked under a heavy cloud of war over Artsakh, which was savagely attacked last month by Azerbaijan, which has advocated violence and aggression since it lost the war for the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic more than two decades ago.
The significance of this year’s Independence Day celebration is that, once again, the Armenian nation faces threats to its existence and security. The overwhelming response from the Armenian Nation to what is now being referred to as the “four-day war of April,â€
