LEWES, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. As Armenians worldwide mark the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Jack Berberian knew he had to do something to honor the memory of his family.

“My grandmother is a survivor of the genocide,” he said from his office recently. “Growing up it was a part of our culture. I needed to make sure we don’t forget our history and roots.”

As reports “Armenpress’ citing capegazette.com, Berberian decided to do the most visible thing he could think of.

For the better part of April, his business’ electronic billboard on the north side of Route 1 just north of Lewes has been scrolling a message that reads “1915 NEVER AGAIN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.”

“Coming up to the 100-year anniversary, I felt a responsibility,” said Berberian. “It was really a way to raise awareness for the people who didn’t know.”

Berberian’s grandmother, Takouhi Dekirmendjian, was born in 1900. The genocide is recognized to have begun on April 24, 1915, when she was 15 years old.

By the time the genocide had concluded eight years later, nearly 2 million men, women and children had been killed.

“There is no question if it happened,” said Berberian.

Berberian said his grandmother, great-grandfather, great-grandmother and a cousin had to leave their home under the cover of darkness days after the genocide began. They traveled through the deserts of Syria before settling in Lebanon. Berberian, 42, was born in Lebanon, before coming to the United States with his parents and grandmother in 1975.

Berberian’s wife, Rozi, is Armenian also. Her maiden name is Mkyrtchian. Her family escaped the genocide by moving to Jerusalem.

Berberian also contacted his state legislators Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, and Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, about sponsoring a resolution that would recognize the genocide.

“I had never been through the process, but I just explained what it would mean to me,” he said.

The two legislators agreed to introduced a resolution.

Both branches have recognized the genocide in the past, but at different times – the Senate in 1995 and the House in 2007. The resolution that passed in April was the first time both legislative branches together recognized the genocide.

Lopez said it was important to recognize that events that happened 100 years ago are still affecting people today.

There is a small, but active group of Armenians in the area, said Lopez. They own lots of small businesses and have kids in local schools, he said.

“It’s important we remember the human suffering that took place with their families,” he said.

Berberian said when the Senate and then the House passed the resolution, it brought tears to his eyes.

“I was overwhelmed. The senators and representatives knew about the genocide and cared about it,” he said, admitting he’s never been one to be overly engaged in the political process. “I was just happy to do my part.”

Berberian has four daughters. The oldest, Isabella, is 8. He said he and his wife haven’t begun telling the kids stories of their relatives, but, he continued, he will in the future when and if they ask.

“It’s going to be important to know where they’ve come from,” he said.