Visitors to Pasadena’s Armenian Genocide Memorial likely will soon see new plaques at the entrance and around the perimeter that will display the names of donors – both individual community members and organizations – that helped build the memorial.

The Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, which oversees the memorial, submitted the request in November to install the memorial and donor plaques.

According to the PAGMC proposal, one large plaque, measuring 15 by 30 inches, will be placed near the entrance, and up to 19 smaller plaques will be installed around the perimeter and along the southern end of the Memorial.

After an initial review by the Parks and Natural Resources Division of the Pasadena Department of Public Works, the PAGMC submitted a follow-up letter in December explaining the significance of the plaques.

“They are acknowledgements for contributions to the Memorial, not monuments of individuals for their contributions to the City,” the letter signed by PAGMC co-chairs Robert Kalunian and Shoghig Yepremian said. “Representations and promises of such recognition plaques were made in brochures and pamphlets soliciting donations from individuals and organizations. Failure to honor those promises could lead to civil liability of PAGMC and the City.”

The plaques are expected to bear this inscription:

“This memorial is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century, committed by the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915 to 1923.

The memorial form is an abstraction of the timber gallows that publicly put to death many leaders and intellectuals at the onset of the genocide. A teardrop falls for each of the 1.5 million souls that have entered eternity.

Armenians in California and around the world continue to pursue a just resolution to the Armenian Genocide. Dedicated April of 2015.”

A translation in Armenian text follows the statement, and on the right side are lists of the members of the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, members of the Pasadena City Council, and the names of the Memorial Construction Team.

On Tuesday, the Public Works Department recommended approval of the project to the Recreation and Parks Commission. The Commission is expected to pass this on to the City Council this week or next.

The Public Works Department said it finds the proposal to be consistent with the Public Monument Policy of the City and is recommending approval.

The project is not expected to have any fiscal impact on the City, as all costs for the manufacturing and installation of the plaques will be shouldered by the PAGMC.

Construction of the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial started in January 2015 and was completed and inaugurated in April 2015.

Source: http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/armenian-genocide-memorial-committee-proposes-new-plaques-for-monument/#.WMAdNBDgDsE