A series of events are planned this week in the Valley to mark the 99th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, The Fresno Bee reports.
• Two showings of the movie, “Music to Madness: The Story of Komitas,” will be held Monday at the Tower Theater, 815 E. Olive Ave. in Fresno. One showing is at 2:30 p.m., the second at 7:30 p.m. The movie portrays an Armenian boy with a perfect singing voice who becomes a great performer as an adult, but who gets caught up in the genocide and ultimately falls into madness.
• On Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Ararat Cemetery, 1925 W. Belmont Ave. in Fresno, wreaths and flowers can be laid at the monument of the Remains of the Unknown Martyr of the Armenian Genocide. A requiem service will be officiated by Armenian clergy from throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
• At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, there will be a commemoration and flag raising at Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St. Among the speakers will be Mayor Ashley Swearengin and Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and David Valadao, R-Hanford. Special attention will be paid to recent attacks by Syrian rebels on the city of Kessab, where many Armenians were living and have been uprooted in the fighting.
• A commemoration of the genocide will start at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, 220 Third St. in Fowler. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Debra Kazanjian will be the featured speaker.
• And for the months of April and May, there is a photo exhibition at the UC Merced Center, 550 E. Shaw Ave. in Fresno, called “The Living Martyrs,” which shows children who survived the genocide.