Knights of Vartan, Inc.

Commemoration of the 1915 Armenian Genocide

Times Square/April 24th

In 1984, as a result of a special meeting called by Raffee Mgrdechian, Commander of Knights of Vartan, Mamigonian Lodge of Brooklyn, New York, the first Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at Times Square was proposed, and presented for approval to the Grand Commander, Khachadour Kazarian, and his Grand Council.

The estimated cost to commemorate the Armenian Genocide at Times Square was $10,000.00. Once the Grand Commander and his Council approved the function, the members of Mamigonian Lodge immediately took the responsibility of underwriting and/or raising the estimated cost. Under the leadership of Brothers Hirant Gulian, Hrach Kaprielian, and Arthur Minnetyan, fund raising began for the very first Times Square Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Suggestions were also made that the four Lodges in the Knights of Vartan Mid-Atlantic District be involved jointly in this commemoration. The Mid-Atlantic Inter-lodge gave its blessing.

In September of 1984, the Mid-Atlantic Interlodge nominated Brother Samuel Azadian, who had first suggested Times Square as the possible site of the commemoration, as its very first Commemoration Committee Chairman. Brother Hirant Gulian was nominated to serve as his co-chairman and both were given the responsibility of organizing the 70th Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide this time to be held at Times Square, New York City in April 1985.

Past Commander Leon Nigohosian of the Knights of Vartan Bakradouny Lodge of New Jersey subsequently joined the team as a co-chairman. For the next 19 years, this trio was responsible for making the Times Square Commemoration a household name, not only in the New York/New Jersey area but nationally and internationally.

Grand Commanders of the Knights of Vartan, Grand Matrons of the Daughters of Vartan, Clergy from the Armenian and non-Armenian churches, major Armenian/American organizations, civic, state and national political figures, educators and members of the literary world have participated in the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at Times Square over the years.

Under able leadership, and the collaboration of the four Lodges in the Mid-Atlantic District and their respective chapters of the Daughters of Vartan, the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at Times Square continues on.