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YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. The founder of American Reddit social network Alexis Ohanian posted a note about the Armenian Genocide in his Facebook page stating that fighting for recognition will not stop. “101 years later and we're still fighting for recognition of the #ArmenianGenocide. We won't stop. Today is my birthday, living proof that #TurkeyFailed, and we as a people keep thriving all over the world. Thanks to all of those who endured before us, “Armenpress” reports, Alexis Ohanian wrote recalling that a year ago the history of his family based on the stories told by his father and Grandfather was published in “Reddit”.
John Ohanian, grandfather of Alexis Ohanian, tells: "The families of my parents were orphaned when the Turkish government cleansed the Armenian population in central Turkey during the Armenian Genocide. My mother was one of the refugees that marched out - many died including her brother and sister - through Turkey to Aleppo, Syria.
My father's parents were murdered, in his presence, when the Turks stormed his town. A soldier on horseback was about to kill him with a sword when his friend told him to stop, because he was too young, and as only child, my father was then taken to an orphanage in Turkey and left there. He first came to the US around 1920 and later he found that my mother was living in Aleppo - they had been next-door neighbors and he brought her to the United States and they married soon thereafter. They had 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. I had one older sister and two younger sisters. I was the second child.
If I learned anything from my parents, it was to take care of yourself and your own needs and your family needs and that the family was the most important part of growing up”.
John Ohanian took part as a volunteer in the Second World War. Serving 33 month he returned to civic life, continued his studies and became a lawyer.
Photo from Alexis Ohanian’s Facebook page