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For Immediate Release
TCA ARSHAG DICKRANIAN ARMENIAN SCHOOL
1200 CAHUENGA BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90038

DICKRANIAN STUDENTS MEMORILIZE GENOCIDE VICTIMS AND BENEFACTOR ARSHAG DICKRANIAN

Los Angeles, April 27, 2009 – On Thursday morning, April 23, the students of the TCA Arshag Dickranian School walked half a block with their teachers and filled the pews of St. John Church to partake in the requiem service in observance of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 15th anniversary of the passing of benefactor Arshag Dickranian.

Honoring the solemn event with their presence were the benefactor’s wife Mrs. Eleanor Dickranian, daughters Cynthia Norian, Laurel Karabian, and the School Board Chairman George K. Mandossian.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, presided at the ceremony assisted by the church’s pastor Archpriest Manoug Markarian and joined by school choir.

Following the requiem service, the students paid tribute to their benefactor and the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide in a fitting program. Eleventh grader Ani Taglyan acted as MC, in turn calling upon the program participants to present their speeches and poetry recitations, while the school choir intermittently joined in with hymnals and patriotic songs. The program also included a slide presentation depicting the horrors of the Genocide.

Born on January 26, 1905 in Izmit, Turkey, Arshag Dickranian was a survivor of the Genocide. The Dickranian family immigrated to the US in 1923, thereupon setting off young Arshag to get into the fruit and vegetable trade business, and eventually open the Premier Market in Beverly Hills. Throughout his life, Arshag Dickranian selflessly dedicated himself to promote goodwill among the Armenian communities, sharing his fortunes generously wherever the needs were impending.

Dickranian’s proudest accomplishment was the establishment of the Tekeyan Cultural Association Arshag Dickranian School in 1981. Since then, the school has become a lasting legacy of his belief that the Armenian spirit could only be preserved by educating the young generations and nurturing their commitment to the Armenian cause. Mr. Dickranian remained faithful to his beliefs until his death in the early hours of April 24, 1996.

In his closing remarks, Archbishop Derderian congratulated the students for marking April 23 as Dickranian School’s annual day of remembrance for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and for the school’s benefactor. “Our ancestors chose to die rather than give up their Armenian identity,” said the Archbishop, “Therefore, it is up to you to act like Mr. Dickranian and take the responsibility to preserve and cherish that identity.” He concluded.

Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th grade private educational institution. Call (323) 461-4377, or visit the school website at www.dickranianschool.org for more information.

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