James Badishkanian, a fifth grade student at Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft, took the first place award in the annual essay contest sponsored by the Monmouth County Historical Commission.
Commissioner Glenn Cashion has been heading up the Essay Committee for many years, does an outstanding job, and always brags about the excellence of each of the competitors, as well he should.
This year, James’ essay had special interest and reading it was moving, emotional, inspiring, and an incredible true story about his family. Everyone of the essays was outstanding, there were entrants from public and private schools throughout the county and the judges all said how very difficult the final decision always is. Here is
“A Boy from Dikranagerd”
by James Badishkamian
I am from Armenia, but how did my family end up in New Jersey?
Robert, my great grandfather, came to the United States in 1911. He was penniless, was only 10 and only had his brother to accompany him. In Armenia, he had eight siblings, a mother and father, and many relatives. His family lived in Dikranagerd, an Armenian town in Turkey.
Why didn’t the rest of his family join him?
In the late 1800s, Turkey was tightening its grip on the Armenians who lived there. One of the main reasons they were doing this was because the Armenians were Christian and the Turks were Muslim. They started restricting where the Armenians went to school, whey they lived, what jobs they had, and other basic things. Also, Armenians were robbed of their assets and funds.
When World War I started, Turkey rapidly increased their aggression towards the Armenians because Russia was distracted since the World War was going on.
On April 24, 1914, Turkey brought 100 important Armenians that lived in Turkey to a room where they were all shot. That day was the start of the Armenian Genocide. After that, they started rounding up the rest of the Armenian populations and marched them through the Syrian desert to their death.
My grandfather told me that when the Turks came to Dikranagerd, they first set fire to the mayor and made him dance in the town square. After this the townspeople were killed.
Seven of Robert’s brothers and sisters, as well as his mother and father, were beheaded. He survived by hiding in various places and houses. Finally, Rober and his brother were the only people who survived in my family. Around two million Armenians lived in Turkey in 1914, but at the end of the genocide around 388,000 Armenians were left.
His brother came to America three years prior to Robert and helped him escape Turkey. Then, Robert traveled to the United State and held various jobs, like operating a movie camera and making fur coats. He married his wife, Rose, who was also from Dikranagerd, his birthplace. They eventually saved enough to , launch their bridal gown business in Orange, NJ, which is still in operation today.
This is a very heartbreaking part of my family history, but it is very important to prevent tragic events from happening again. My appreciation for history has grown, I respect them because of the hardships they faced, and am thankful for what I have.
