The first permanent monument in the city of Los Angeles to memorialize the Armenian genocide will be unveiled Saturday at Grand Park.

County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Armenian community and clergy leaders will mark the installation of the sculpture, created by Vahagn Thomasian, during a 5 p.m. ceremony.

The monument is sculpted out of black volcanic tuff rock from the Ararat Valley of Armenia. It will be placed permanently at Olive Court in Grand Park, to remember the Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in a massacre that began April 24, 1915.

“This remarkable memorial honors the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide and Grand Park is a superb venue for reflection and solemn contemplation,” Antonovich said.

Armenian genocide memorials are also in place or being planned for other parts of the county, including Montebello, which has had a monument since 1968.

— City News Service

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