Name: Caspar Jivalagian

Age: 18

City: Pasadena

School: Pasadena City College

Occupation: Graphic Designer

How many days will you be marching?
All Days

Why did you decide to participate as a marcher?
I feel as though it's my obligation as an Armenian to actively participate in this march. If my great-grandparents marched for days and months with out any food and water so that I can be here today, I believe I can march for 21 days to show them I'm thankful for what they did.

What do you hope to achieve by participating in this march?
On a personal level I hope to achieve a satisfaction within myself that I'm actually effectively working for the Armenian cause. On a more general level, I hope that people will see that it doesn't matter what age you are, or what your background is, you can still make a difference in the Armenian community if you're willing to sacrifice.

What are you doing to prepare for the march?
As far as preparing for the march, I've been trying to eat healthier. I'm also occasionally going on jogs around my neighborhood.

Do you have any relatives who were Genocide survivors?
Yes, my Great Grandparents were both genocide survivors.

If so, can you talk a little about their experience?
My Great Grandma Khanem Jivalagian, would always tell my grandparents the story of the genocide. This story was passed down to my father and my father passed it down to me. My Great Grandma said that Turkish Soldiers arrived at her house and told her to take all her belongings and leave. They told her they were only going to leave for a few days. They grabbed whatever they could and left. They circled the city of Ourfa, my Great Grandma, her four sisters, her Mother and Father. For days all they did was keep going in circles, until finally they made them walk to and through Der Zor. By this time my Great Grandmothers father had passed on. My Great Grandmother had two kids, one boy and one girl. They made it through Der Zor luckily and they arrived in Mosul. This was about a 250 mile journey. In Mosul my Great Grandmother was starting to feel ill, so she found a good Christian family and gave her daughter to them. They promised to raise her and take good care of her. In Mosul my Great Grandmothers Mother also became very ill, and because she was an elderly woman she passed away. She passed away in the middle of the street, and nobody was physically able to carry her. They found a horse carriage whose operator told them they can tie her to the carriage and drag her for a certain amount of money. (He wouldnt even allow to put her on the carriage). So desperately they accepted the offer and watched their mother being dragged until they reached a little patch of land where they knew they could put her to rest. After they put their mother to rest, they started walking once more. This time the destination was Iraq. This was another 100 mile journey. They arrived in Iraq in the city of Kerkouk. My Great Grandmother would go in the fields and steal wheat to make food for whoever was left from her family. After several years of living like this she was able to start her own family and raise them with the respect and traditions of the Armenian culture. This is the story of my family, and the Turkish government tells me it never happened.

Why do you think it is important for the US to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide?
As citizens of this country that so heavily emphasizes equality I feel as though I’ve been discriminated against when it comes to this issue. The US government closing their eyes in regards to Armenian issues makes me feel as though I’m not counted for as an Armenian American. The United States is known to be the country that every other country takes example from. If the example they are setting fort is that of denial then all those who follow this nation are going to acquire the same ethics, and more Genocides are going to take place in centuries to come. The US recognizing the Armenian Genocide will show that crimes against humanity will not be tolerated anywhere in the world.

What significance does this year being the 90th anniversary of the Genocide have for you?
The 90th anniversary marks 90 years of denial. This number to me stands for 90 years too much. 90 years of lies, 90 years of defiance, 90 years of rejection. This number means to me that we haven't been doing enough and it's time to raise the bar. It's time for every Armenian to step up and take back what was once ours. "Odarin dooneh ayl che abahov, hye hogheroon vra abrink menk parkov"