Twenty-three teachers from 8 Armenian Saturday schools from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago came together on Sat., Aug. 23 for a one-day seminar organized by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) at the Prelacy headquarters in Manhattan. The program, introduced by ANEC Executive Director Dr. Vartan Matiossian, was well received by the audience.

Participants at the ANEC seminar on Aug. 23

Rev. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in Manhattan and a member of ANEC, greeted the audience on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. Der Mesrob acknowledged the participation of teachers from St. Illuminator’s Armenian Saturday School (New York), Nareg Saturday School (New Jersey), Haigazian School (Philadelphia), St. Stephen’s Armenian Saturday School (Boston), and Taniel Varoujan Armenian Saturday School (Chicago), all under ANEC jurisdiction, as well as from St. Vartan Saturday School, Armenian School of Brooklyn (New York), and St. Leon’s Armenian School (New Jersey), which are under the jurisdiction of the Diocese. Also attending the seminar was Gilda Buchakjian, the coordinator of Armenian studies at the Eastern Diocese.

The lecturer in the morning was Sossi Essajanian, a teaching assistant at the United Nations International School and a member of ANEC, who spoke on best practices of early childhood teaching and their application to Armenian schools. Essajanian introduced the various theories on child development and focused on literacy development, the main concern of our schools. Afterwards, she introduced various helpful ideas about reading development, where fluency is crucial, she noted. The rest of the presentation was devoted to discussing practical ideas and suggestions for teaching listening and speaking, classroom layout, scheduled planning, and learning Armenian as a second language. These ideas were adapted to the needs and the limitations of Armenian one-day schools. Essajanian spoke in English, complemented with a PowerPoint presentation in Armenian, which is available on the ANEC section of the Armenian Prelacy website at www.armenianprelacy.org.

After the lunch break, Anahid Garmiryan gave a thought-provoking presentation titled, “To Be or Not to Be a Teacher: The Challenges of Bilingualism.” Garmiryan was the long-time principal of the Hovnanian School in New Jersey, and was recently designated as the senior program officer for Western Armenian language support at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal. Garmiryan began by challenging the traditional idea of the teacher as someone who knows everything or knows something better, and maintained that teachers are actually learners, whose mission is not to teach to their students, but to have them acquire knowledge—in our case, the knowledge of the Armenian language. To be a “no teacher,” she said, is to put oneself in the situation of a language learner and turn language learning into a healthy experience. Teaching Armenian as a second language implies knowing what to do in order to provide the learner with all the means necessary for language acquisition. Textbooks help to put knowledge in order, but we are confronted with the challenge of learners who may see things differently when it comes to the process of acquisition. A teacher’s task is to create the appropriate conditions to make the language audible and turn it into a means of communication. This entails motivation to learn the language, demand to do so, and the generation of interest on the part of the student.

Garmiryan was particularly adamant about the need to understand that language learning is a process of participation where no one has the monopoly on language, and that teachers should work under the premise that everyone can learn. An appropriate environment should be assured for creative means to acquiring language, such as language games, theater, and painting, instead of focusing on the preparation of a “hantes,” she said.

The final item of the agenda was a discussion about successful and unsuccessful experiences, coordinated by ANEC member Dr. Asbed Vassilian, where each school made short presentations that led to an interesting exchange of opinions.

ANEC is under the joint sponsorship of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and the Armenian Relief Society.

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On Sun., June 1, under the Auspices of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern United States, the four ARS chapters of New Jersey—“Agnouni,” “Bergen County,” “Shakeh,” and “Spitak”—held their annual “Walk Armenia” event.

Front of Sts. Vartanantz Church to Receive Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian’s Blessing

This worthwhile fundraising and public relations event aims to help local organizations, Armenian citizens in Armenia, and various non-profit projects. This year, part of the proceeds will benefit Camp Haiastan.

In preparation for the Walk Armenia, committee members gathered in front of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Ridgefield, N.J., to distribute the traditional custom-made T-shirts for the walkers and to receive Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian’s blessing.

The walk this year took place in Van Saun County Park in Paramus. The weather was magnificent and the walk was delightful. More than 30 supporters attended with uniformed T-shirts, flags, sneakers, wheelchairs, and canes. We are a small community holding hands together for a greater goal.

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Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York and a member of the Armenian Prelacy Religious Council, represented Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan at the Prayer Service on the occasion of the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Mon., Sept. 15. The service took place at the Church of the Holy Family.

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian

Rev. Gerald E. Murray, pastor of the Church of the Holy Family, welcomed the guests. Remarks were offered by the Most Reverend Gerald T. Walsh, vicar general, Archdiocese of New York; His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the UN; His Excellency Sam Kutesa, president of the 69th session of the General Assembly; and His Excellency Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN.

The service included prayers, readings, and hymns. Many of the prayers called for an end of violence and war, and especially for peace in Syria and the Middle East.

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Through the efforts of Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Susan Terzian” Chapter chairwoman Sonia Gulbenk, a series of events were held in Connecticut to screen Bared Maronian’s documentary film “Orphans of the Genocide” and highlights of his upcoming documentary “Women of 1915.”

Scene from the public screening at the Adante Student Center Theatre

The first screening was held at the Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) on Tues., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., sponsored by the department of philosophy, the Honors College, and the Office of President, supported by Dr. Armen T. Marsoobian, chairperson of the philosophy department.

Dr. Mary Papazian, president of SCSU, gave her opening remarks and introduced Bared Maronian to the more than 75 attendees. The event was well received by both the Armenian public in the community as well as the students and faculty from the school.

Marsoobian arranged a lecture discussion on the Armenian Genocide at SCSU on Wed., Sept. 10, from 1-4 p.m. On Sept. 11, he arranged the screening of the documentary at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church Hall in New Britain, Conn.

Scene at the Gubenkian home

On Sat., Sept. 13, Ed and Carmen Gulbenkian graciously hosted a private dinner party at their home in Pound Ridge, N.Y., where Maronian was able to have a warm discussion about his documentaries. Mr. and Mrs. Gulbenkian were touched by Maronian’s film and pledged $15,000 for the “Women of 1915” documentary. Additional donations were made by attendees, bringing the total contribution for the day to $17,000.

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On Sept. 19-20, the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Mayr” and “Erebouni” Chapters of New York, under the auspices of the ARS of Eastern USA, held fundraisers in support of Bared Maronian’s upcoming documentary, “Women of 1915.” More than 80 people attended both fundraisers. The Sept. 19 reception was graciously hosted by Virginia Davies and Willard Taylor at their home in the West Village. The Sept. 20 reception was graciously hosted by Narine and Sandy Petropoulos at their home in Manhasset, N.Y.

Singer songwriter Hooshere and her accompanist, Peter Douskalis

Davies welcomed the guests to her home and thanked Talin Daghlian, chairperson of the ARS Eastern USA, for her leadership, and the ARS chapters for their efforts. Davies recounted how her ties to the ARS are long-standing, as her grandmother was one of the founding members of the ARS Toronto Chapter. She presented Daghlian with Armenia: A Historical Atlas by Robert H. Hewsen as a token of her appreciation. In turn, Daghlian presented Davies with a gift on behalf of the ARS “Mayr” and “Erebouni” Chapters—Hrair “Hawk” Katcherian’s new book, One Church, One Nation. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, presented Davies with a framed picture of a cross. Daghlian then introduced Anahid Ugurlayan, a member of the ARS “Mayr” Chapter and master of ceremonies for the evening.

Johnson Garrett

Ugurlayan welcomed the guests and provided a brief overview of the ARS and its mission, including its work as an NGO at the United Nations. She then invited Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian to give the opening prayer. Lakissian thanked the ARS chapters and noted that the ARS is his favorite Armenian philanthropic organization. He added that Bared Maronian, like him, is a native of Anjar, Lebanon, and was delighted to reconnect with him in New York after 25 years. Lakissian congratulated Maronian on his upcoming documentary and wished him and the ARS continued success.

Ugurlayan then welcomed Johnson Garrett, a digital media executive, internet entrepreneur, and the great-grandson of Cleveland H. Dodge, the first president of the Near East Foundation (NEF), formerly known as the American Committee for Syrian and Armenian Relief. The NEF was founded in 1915 in response to the massive humanitarian crisis precipitated by the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. “Women of 1915” highlights, among other things, the work of the NEF, and Garrett discussed the important role that Armenian and non-Armenian women played in the relief efforts during the genocide, and the herculean task of Armenian women who not only cared for their families but ensured that the Armenian language, culture, and history would survive the dark days of 1915. Garrett thanked Maronian for giving these women the tribute they deserve. He also talked about NEF’s educational initiatives leading up to the Armenian Genocide Centennial in 2015.

Following Garrett’s remarks, award-winning singer/songwriter Hooshere provided a stirring performance of songs, some of which were included in Maronian’s preceding documentary film, “Orphans of the Genocide.” She performed the following evening as well, and expressed her gratitude to Maronian and to the ARS for the opportunity to help them raise money for “Women of 1915.”

Hooshere’s performances were followed by a presentation by Bared Maronian. A four-time Emmy Award-winning documentary film-marker, Maronian presented excerpts from “Orphans of the Genocide” and explained how the film inspired his current documentary, “Women of 1915.” According to Maronian, the purpose of “Women of 1915” is two-fold: to bring to light the lesser known but equally compelling stories of compassion and humanitarian relief provided by Armenian and non-Armenian women from the U.S., Canada, and Europe; and to highlight the integral role Armenian women played in their families and communities, coupled with the courage and resolve they emulated to save their children and their Christian faith from forced Islamization. He provided a preview of key figures featured in “Women of 1915,” and thanked the attendees and the ARS for sponsoring his documentary.

The Sept. 20 fundraiser followed a similar format, with welcoming remarks by host Sandy Petropoulos, who went on to explain the influence his mother-in-law, Hasmik Goulian, had on his life and his understanding of Armenian culture history. Petropoulos introduced Nayda Voskerigian, a member of the ARS “Erebouni” Chapter and the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, spoke about the ARS, its mission, and its noteworthy accomplishments. Following Terterian’s remarks, Richard Sarajian, chairperson of the ARF Central Executive Board, speaking on behalf of the ARF, thanked Maronian for dedicating his professional ambitions to such a noteworthy cause and encouraged attendees to donate as generously as possible to bring his project to fruition. The evening continued with performances by Hooshere and a presentation by Maronian.

More than $16,000 was raised from both fundraisers through the generosity of the attendees and other donors. For those who were unable to attend but would like to make a donation in support of “Women of 1915,” donations can be made online by visiting www.arseastusa.org/donate and clicking on the “Women of 1915” hyperlink. Readers may also donate by mailing a check payable to “ARSEUSA” (mention “Women of 1915” in the memo) to ARS of Eastern USA, 80 Bigelow Avenue, Suite 200, Watertown, MA 02472.

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WASHINGTON—A new international partnership will bring together Yerevan’s Tumo Center for Creative Technologies with  CyArk, an international digital heritage preservation non-profit organization, to train students in 3D capture technologies through a series of workshops in Yerevan.  Through this initiative, Armenian students from Tumo will learn how to use cutting-edge laser scanning technology to preserve historic Armenian heritage sites.

Through this initiative, Armenian students from Tumo will learn how to use cutting-edge laser scanning technology to preserve historic Armenian heritage sites.

This partnership is an unprecedented initiative within CyArk’s 500 Challenge, the race to digitally preserve 500 heritage sites over five years’ time.  The CyArk 500 is an international effort, but the Republic of Armenia will be the first country to participate by engaging and training their youth to take the leadership role in documenting and providing virtual access to Armenia’s heritage sites.

The ancient Armenian monastery of Geghard will be the first site to be digitally documented and converted into detailed 3D models.  These models will then be transferred into an online interactive platform serving as a virtual pilgrimage experience for students and researchers alike.  After the initial workshop and training with Tumo students, the project aims to continue scanning and documenting at least ten additional historic Armenian monuments and sites and to include them in the CyArk 500 Challenge.

CyArk and Tumo are working together to secure the necessary funding to obtain the technology and provide initial training in digital heritage preservation.  The kick-off of this ambitious initiative will take place at a fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, at the Embassy of Armenia to the United States in Washington, D.C.

“It is exciting to be able to bring these highly technical skills to Tumo’s students while also being able to create an online virtual pilgrimage experience for  Armenians around the world,” stated Marie Lou Papazian, managing director of Tumo.

“In my new capacity as the Ambassador of Armenia to the United States, I fully support Tumo’s new initiative as I strongly believe that incorporating new technology into the education of our youth is imperative for our nation’s future,” said His Excellency Amb. Tigran Sargsyan.

“CyArk is thrilled to train Armenian students to digitize their own heritage and build a digital record of these incredible heritage sites securely archived and incorporated into the CyArk 500,” remarked Elizabeth Lee, Vice President of CyArk.

“It is inspiring to see Armenian youth using technology to tell the stories of these ancient and deeply meaningful places,” remarked Katherine Sarafian, producer of the Oscar-winning Pixar film, Brave.  “I am so honored to serve on the Boards of both Tumo and CyArk, two organizations that bring technology, artistry and history together in compelling and important ways.”

To learn more about the Tumo/CyArk initiative and the Embassy event, visit: www.armenia3d.org

For press inquiries, please contact Taline Ayanyan of CyArk at Taline.Ayanyan@cyark.org, or Anna Naghdalyan of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia at a.naghdalyan@mfa.am.

About Tumo: Tumo is a non-profit venture and participation in the Tumo program is free of charge and open to all local teenagers. Tumo helps Armenian youth develop 21^st century skills in order to prevent emigration and build capable members of Armenia’s future work force. For more information, visit www.tumo.org.

About CyArk: CyArk is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission of using new technologies to create a free, 3D online library of the world’s cultural heritage sites before they are lost. For more information, visit www.cyark.org.

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New York— Armenian Americans throughout the Eastern U.S. will be joining together to celebrate a year of civic activism at the 8th annual Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region Banquet, to be held on Sunday, Dec. 7 in New York.

The ANCA Eastern Region Banquet will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7 in New York.

“After four-years of successful events hosted in our New England and Mid-Atlantic communities, we look forward to coming back to where it all started—New York City—to spotlight the expansion of a broad range of ANCA projects throughout the Eastern U.S.,” said ANCA Eastern Region Chairman Steve Mesrobian. “Our banquet committee is working hard to organize an unforgettable evening dedicated to the committed and passionate community advocates who work tirelessly in support of the Armenian Cause.”

The December 7 banquet, sponsored by the ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund, will begin with an elegant cocktail reception and silent auction at 4 p.m., followed by dinner and awards ceremony at 6 p.m. The event will take place in the heart of New York City at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel located at 2 West Street, New York, N.Y., 10004. Additional information is available at: http://www.anca.org/erbanquet .

Since 2007, the ANCA Freedom Award has been presented to former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans, Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. Samantha Power, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, the late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, former U. S. Senator Robert Dole, former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, Baroness Caroline Cox, and critically-acclaimed author Chris Bohjalian.

Past recipients of the ANCA Vahan Cardashian Award include Vahe Amirian of New Jersey, Martha Aramian of Rhode Island, Bedros Bandazian of Virginia, Melanie Kerneklian of Virginia, Tatul Sonentz-Papazian of Massachusetts, Ruth Thomasian of Massachusetts, Stephen Dulgarian of Massachusetts, Professor Richard Hovannisian of California, and Zohrab Tazian of Indiana.

Award recipients for the 2014 ANCA Eastern Region Annual Banquet will be announced in the coming days.

For the details on hotel reservations call 1-800-241-3333 and reference the name “ANC.” Guests may also make reservations online by visiting the hotel website at www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/NewYorkBatteryPark. Use “ANCANCA” code to get the reduced rate of $395 for the Deluxe City View Room or “ANCANCB” for Statue of Liberty View Room for $445 per night. The cutoff date for discounted guest rooms is Thursday, November 6, 2014.

The ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that supports the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region in outreach to Armenian American communities.

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On Nov. 21-22, the Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) will hold a two-day conference at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., titled “Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the 19-20th Century,” to mark the 40th anniversary of its founding.

Twenty participants representing various international academic institutions will participate in the three panels. They include Heghnar Watenpaugh, Umit Kurt, Rachel Goshgarian, Murat Yildiz, Richard Hovannisian, Anahit Kartashyan, Khatchig Mouradian, and Nora Cherishian Lessersohn.

The first panel, titled “The Contributions of Armenians to Ottoman Culture, Society, Art, and Architecture,” will include papers on such topics as “Reconstructing the Urban and Architectural History of Ottoman-Armenian Communities: Zeytun, 1850-1915” and “Reassessing Cultural Transformation in Early-20th-Century Bolis: Armenian Contributions to a Shared Ottoman Physical Culture.”

Panels two and three will focus on “The Aftermath of the Genocide.” Papers in these two sessions range from “The Emergence of the New Wealthy Class between 1915-1921: The Seizure of Armenian Property by the Local Elites in Aintab,” to “Naim Bey from Sis to Meskeneh: Testimony, Between Survivor Reticence and Descendants’ Consumption Binge.”

“As we are approaching the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, this timely conference not only allow us to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Society for Armenian Studies, one of the most important academic organizations dedicated to Armenian studies, but also to commemorate the Armenian Genocide,” said Prof. Bedross Der Matossian, chair of the Organizing Committee and vice-president of the SAS. “In addition to fascinating papers that concentrate on the contribution of the Armenians to Ottoman society, there are also other captivating papers on the Armenian Genocide viewed from different perspectives that range from fresh studies on the concentration camps, humanitarian interventions, to denial of the genocide.”

The conference will conclude with a reception on Saturday night. All sessions are free and open to the public. No registration is required. The conference will take place in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA), which is going to be held in Washington from Nov. 22-25.

“We urge the Armenian community at large and the academic community to attend this fascinating event and learn more about different aspects of the history of Armenians in the late Ottoman period,” said Der Matossian.

The full program can be viewed by visiting http://societyforarmenianstudies.com/2014/10/14/sas-40th-anniversary-conference-armenians-in-the-ottoman-empire-in-the-19th-20th-centuries.

The Society for Armenian Studies was founded in 1974 by a group of scholars on the initiative of Richard G. Hovannisian, Dickran Kouymjian, Nina Garsoian, Avedis Sanjian, and Robert Thomson. It is dedicated to promoting the study of Armenian culture and society; facilitating the exchange of scholarly information pertaining to Armenian studies around the world; and sponsoring panels and conferences on Armenian studies.

SAS programs include the publication of a newsletter on both its activities and current research on Armenia, and the publication of the peer-reviewed Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies, as well as the encouragement, sponsorship, and publication of research on all facets of Armenian culture and society.

For more information on the Society for Armenian Studies, visit www.societyforarmenianstudies.com.

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RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (A.W.)—A reception and program launching two books recently published by the Hairenik Association was hosted by Michael and Ani Sarajian at their home in Ridgewood.

The program featured a presentation on Arshavir Shiragian, whose memoir The Legacy was recently republished by the Hairenik Association as an e-book. The book chronicles the extraordinary story of Shiragian who embarked on an international manhunt to track down and assassinate the Turkish masterminds of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern Region Central Committee Chair Richard Sarajian welcomed the guests and presented brief remarks on the legacy of Shiragian. He then introduced special guest speakers John S. Pehlivanian, Esq. and Haroutune Terjanian, who shared personal memories of Shiragian as a family member and a fellow ARF member respectively.

ARF Eastern Region Chair Richard Sarajian introducing Haroutune Terjanian

In The Legacy, Shiragian recounts how he located and assassinated the men responsible for this crime against humanity. He describes how he tracked down and killed the Grand Vizier, Sayid Halim Pasha, in Rome. A few months later, Shiragian, together with Aram Yerganian, located and shot dead Jemal Azmi Pasha, the governor-general of Trabizond, and Dr. Behaeddin Shakir Bey, the mastermind of the Armenian Genocide.

John S. Pehlivanian

In his presentation, Pehlivanian portrayed Shiragian as a man of great resilience who knew very well what he meant to the Armenian community, and was modest despite his status as a national hero. His presentation focused on the period prior to and immediately after the assassination of Jemal Azmi and Behaeddin Shakir, and highlighted the love story between Shiragian and his future wife, Kayane.

Terjanian’s presentation focused on Shiragian’s life as a community leader, a member of the ARF, and a family man in the United States. Reminiscing episodes and tidbits from Shiragian’s life and activism in the U.S., Terjanian conveyed a powerful and moving image of a man who, despite the scars of the past, stood tall. His stories of Shiragian’s family life underscored his dedication to his family and circle of friends.

To purchase The Legacy e-book, click here.

Copies of Voices from the Past: Excerpts from the Writings of Armenian Revolutionaries, another recent publication by the Hairenik Association, were available for purchase at the gathering. Voices from the Past is also available as an e-book. To purchase Voices from the Past on Amazon, click here.

A reception and program to launch Voices from the Past was held in New York on April 28. Held at the home of Virginia Davies and Willard Taylor, the event featured President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Dr. Vartan Gregorian, who spoke about “Simon Vratsian: His Life and Legacy.”

A scene from the evening

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NEWARK, N.J.—Two new courses exploring the darkest side of 19th- and early 20th-century empires are being offered this spring at Rutgers University-Newark by the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights (CGHR), in collaboration with the Genocide Education Project–Higher Education Division (GenEd-HigherEd).

Titled “Imperialism and Mass Violence” and “Amending Atrocities,” the courses are being taught by Khatchig Mouradian, a Ph.D. candidate in genocide studies and the former editor of the Armenian Weekly.

“Imperialism and Mass Violence” explores the mass violence carried out by 19th- and early 20th-century empires within the broader context of the political, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions of imperialism. Through case studies of the Native Americans, the Spanish-Cuban War, the Philippines-American War, the genocide of the Herero and Nama, the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and the crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II, students will study imperial ideologies and policies, including practices of population control, counter-insurgency, and outright mass murder and genocide, with a comparative perspective. Issues of victim agency and resistance, as well as the aftermath of mass violence, will be examined in each case.

“Amending Atrocities” examines the legacy of these cases of genocide and mass violence, and how states and societies deal with atrocities in their history. The course will explore shades of genocide denial in public discourse, the acknowledgment of crimes, apology, justice, and reparations as paths to reconciliation.

“On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as the world continues to witness new examples of mass violence, it is important to examine these dark pages in human history that degrade our collective humanity and re-shape our world in profound ways,” said James Sahagian, the director of GenEd-HigherEd. “Through a comparative study, students will also analyze the significant long-term effects on victims and perpetrators, and ensuing demands for justice.”
Mouradian has been the coordinator of the Armenian Genocide Program at Rutgers since 2011. He teaches history and sociology as an adjunct professor, and is also a doctoral candidate at the Strassler Center and a Calouste Gulbenkian Armenian Studies Fellow. The courses follow Mouradian’s spring 2014 course, “Sociology and History of Concentration Camps,” which traced the evolution of the concentration camp from a counter-insurgency strategy in wartime to a weapon of mass murder. Cases studied included the Spanish-Cuban War, the Second Anglo-Boer War, the Philippines-American War, the Armenian Genocide, and the Holocaust.

Since its inception in 2007, CGHR has become a leader in the field of genocide and human rights studies as it seeks to fulfill its mission “to enhance our understanding of and find solutions to the most pressing 21st-century challenges related to peace and conflict.” It does so by carrying out cutting-edge research, scholarship, outreach activities, and educational initiatives such as these courses. CGHR’s director of global education, Prof. Nela Navarro, said, “These courses enhance the mission of CGHR’s Global Education Program to recognize the critical role that education plays in promoting and sustaining civic society.”

The Genocide Education Project is a non-profit organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources, and organizing educational workshops. It seeks to broaden the general understanding of the Armenian Genocide in the context of the history of World War I and as a prototype of the pattern of genocides that followed. GenEd-HigherEd is focused on facilitating courses and other programming at colleges and universities.

For more information on the spring courses or on the Genocide Education Project, call (201) 739-0901, e-mail highered@GenocideEducation.org, or visit www.GenocideEducation.org. For information about the Rutgers Armenian Genocide Program, e-mail Khatchig Mouradian at khatchig.mouradian@rutgers.edu; e-mail CGHR atcghr@andromeda.rutgers.edu; call (973) 353-1260; or visit www.ncas.rutgers.edu/cghr.

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A scene from the ordination

HARTFORD, Conn.—On Sun., Oct. 19, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Hartford and New Britain celebrated its 89th anniversary with Der Aram Stepanian of Whitinsville, Mass., and His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Cholyan, who presided over the church services.

Not only was this an occasion to celebrate the anniversary of the second oldest Armenian Apostolic Church in the United States, but it also provided the opportunity to witness and celebrate the ordination of Deacon Ara Stepanian, the son of Der Aram. Der Aram has been instrumental in providing support to St Stephen’s Church during a period of transition.

Immediately following church services, approximately 100 people attended a banquet at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Hartford to celebrate the joyous occasion. Archdeacon Ed Varjabedian served as the master of ceremonies, and both Der Aram and Archbishop Choloyan provided inspirational messages for those in attendance.

During the program, “Certificates of Merit” were presented to two members of the church: Anita Arakelian, treasurer of the Board of Trustees, and Richard Arzoomanian, a former Board member who currently serves on the Investment Committee.

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The deadline to submit to the 2014 Sayat Nova International Composition Competition is fast approaching and composers worldwide are invited to submit their work. The competition is designed to introduce Armenian traditions to a wider audience. This year, in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the competition asks contestants to include in their pieces the poetry of Daniel Varoujan, one of the first victims of the genocide.

2014 Sayat Nova International Composition Competition

The Sayat Nova International Composition Competition winners are eligible to receive two awards in addition to cash prizes: the AGBU Carnegie Hall Award and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) Award. The winner of the AGBU Carnegie Hall Award will have his or her piece premiered at the annual AGBU Performing Artists in Concert at the Weill Recital Hall in December 2015. The winner of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra’s (APO) Award will be commissioned to write a 10-minute piece to be premiered by the APO during the 2016/17 season. Contestants will showcase their work at a gala concert scheduled to take place at Symphony Space in New York in March 2015.

For the first time, the Sayat Nova International Composition Competition will be partnering with Vox Novus, which has developed the software for the competition. Vox Novus is a collective of composers, musicians, and music enthusiasts who create, produce, and promote today’s new music and make it known to a larger audience.

In previous years, contestants have submitted compositions for an ensemble of Armenian and Western instruments that have integrated the poetry of 18^th-century Armenian poet Sayat Nova. Since the start of the competition in 2006, applications have arrived from Ghana, Mexico, Russia, and Korea in addition to Armenia, Europe, and the United States. In 2012, the gala concert was held at Salle Cortot in Paris and was attended by 400 guests, including prominent figures from the international musical and political communities.

Submission requirements: Contestants must be born after Dec. 1, 1974 and submit a 7-10-minute composition for a chamber ensemble that includes four musicians (three instrumentalists: one pianist, one cellist, and one duduk player) and one female vocal mezzo-soprano (spoken and/or sung). The piece must also include one quotation, in any form, from a text by Daniel Varoujan in Armenian or in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, or Russian translation.

Submissions to the competition will be accepted online until Nov. 28, 2014, and judged by an international panel of composers and musicians.

For more information about the Sayat Nova International Composition Competition, visit sayatnova.agbueurope.org.

Established in 1906, the AGBU is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, the AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world. For more information, visit www.agbu.org.

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FAIR LAWN, N.J.—“Friends of Onnik & John” threw a wonderful tribute dinner to honor two of our most beloved Armenian performers, Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian. The banquet was held on Sat., Sept. 27 in Fair Lawn to a sold-out capacity crowd of more than 300 people.

Although the event was scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., to everyone’s amazement, excited guests started arriving 30 minutes early and clamoring for photos with the 2 guests of honor. The champagne hour lasted nearly two hours, as four generations of

‘Friends of Onnik & John’ Committee members with the two honorees. (L-R) Anahid Dinkjian, Dr. Berdj Feredjian, John Berberian, Bert Bedrosian, Onnik Dinkjian, George Parnagian, Ara Dinkjian

friends and family mixed and mingled, hugged and mugged for the photographer and videographer capturing all the special moments the night would hold. The feeling in the room was palpable as many in the room had more than 60 years of shared milestones and memories among them. It was a magical evening by all accounts.

Following the champagne hour was a very traditional Armenian mezze, shish kebab dinner, and dessert. As dinner service started winding down, some touching retrospectives of the lives of Onnik and John began. Nikki Berberian-Whittlesey, Kristi Berberian-Markarian, and Adam Berberian presented a beautiful reflection of their father John’s life, taking turns to speak. This was followed by Ara Dinkjian, who presented a moving tribute to his father, Onnik.

The evening culminated with a very special and well-deserved honor. The Honorees were presented with a formal proclamation from Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora for their worldwide promotion and preservation of traditional Armenian folk songs.

Onnik and John were visibly moved throughout the evening, and each took the mic to express their sincere and humble gratitude for the honor presented to them by their Armenian community.

It was a dream come true for Bert Bedrosian, chairman of the “Friends of Onnik & John” Committee, who conceived, spearheaded, planned, and produced this once in a lifetime event. Guests rose to their feet in standing applause after Onnik and John delighted the crowd by performing two numbers to bring the very successful evening to a close. To view more photos, visit http://diran.smugmug.com/YourPortraits/Dinkjian-Berberian.

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Applications are now being accepted for AGBU’s 2015 New York Summer Internship Program (NYSIP), offering Armenian university students worldwide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and work in one of the most exciting cities in the world. This year’s applicants will have the chance to join the ranks of over a thousand program alumni who have risen to the top of their fields.

Since 1987, New York has hosted the longest-running AGBU Summer Internship Program, welcoming hundreds of participants from all over the world. With a long-standing reputation among top-rated host institutions, NYSIP is able to place interns in highly competitive companies throughout the city. Past host institutions have included Merrill Lynch, Columbia University Medical Center, Christie’s, Ismael Leyva Architects, New York 1 News, Telegraph UK, Rothschild, Mirrorball, Urban Designers, and Massey Knakal. In addition to work experience, New York is also the ideal venue for networking with professionals in the Armenian community and beyond.

Following the broader mission of the AGBU, the summer program is also geared toward empowering the young Armenian community by nurturing a network of students from around the world. Interns form lifelong friendships and professional contacts, creating the basis for a global network of young Armenian professionals.

Last year, 33 undergraduate and graduate students from Armenia, Brazil, Canada, France, Lebanon, Romania, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the program and were placed in prestigious institutions like Michael Aram, Deutsche Bank, Human Rights Watch, and NYU Medical Center.

The selection process is already underway and the application deadline is Dec. 1, 2014. For more information and to apply online, visit www.agbu-internship.org/nysip.

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“The victims of the Armenian Genocide will become victors in Christ,” said Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson, professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, in a fascinating lecture delivered on Thurs., Oct. 9. The presentation was sponsored by the Zohrab Information Center of the Armenian Diocese (Eastern).

In his introduction, the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, director of the Zohrab Information Center, called the speaker an “expert in the history and theology of early Christian worship” who has written extensively on the topic of martyrdom. In April 2015, on the 100^th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, Findikyan said, the Armenian Church will canonize the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. “Many died for the Christian faith. This is unique and momentous, since the church has not had canonization for hundreds of years.”

Martyrs will become saints

The canonization will take place under the auspices of the Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. “They will officially recognize as saints of the church the countless souls who perished during the genocide for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ,” Findikyan said.

Johnson began his thought-provoking discourse entitled, “The Blood of the Martyrs ‘Seed of the Church’ Yesterday and Today,” by noting that throughout the Armenian Badarak, saints appear in several places, especially in the Intercessions where they are emphasized.

“Who is a saint,” he asked. “They are citizens of the kingdom of God, certain faithful members of the church who stand out. Most are unknown, and in certain communities, they are venerated locally. Canonization implies that the saints are included into the canon.”

In the Armenian Church, canonization is not a formal, legal process, but rather recognition by the church of a person’s sanctity, he said. And the qualifications include being a martyr, performing miracles, living a holy life, or being an exemplary icon. The basic examples of saints in the Armenian Church have been martyrs, monks, or bishops, and their deaths, miracles, relics, icons have been commemorated.

Armenian martyrs of past

First and foremost among the martyrs is Jesus Christ, the scholar said; others have included St. Stephen Proto Martyr, the 40 Martyrs of Sepastia (frozen to death), St. Shushanik, St. Hripsime (virgin and martyr), St. Ignatius of Antioch (bishop and martyr), and St. Blaise (bishop and martyr). The anniversaries of their martyrdom became birthday celebrations, he noted, since on that day they entered a new and eternal life with Christ.

“There is a very strong connection between the martyrs and the Eucharist. They are not only commemorated on their anniversaries, but also sought by prayers and devotion,” he stated. “Saints’ days were the heart and form of Christian piety.”

20^th-century martyrs

The 20^th century has been called the Age of Martyrs, he continued, because “more Christians died for their faith than in previous times, such as during the Roman Empire. Today martyrdom is of an ecumenical nature. Only one who has died of his or her own will is a martyr,” Johnson declared. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who was killed in 1980 at the altar, is such an example. “The first thing he saw upon arising in the morning, and the last thing he saw before retiring at night, was a picture at his bedside of Christ’s passion in his last gasp before He died.”

Seed of unity

In May 2014, Pope Francis received Catholicos Karekin II, and said, “In truth, the number of disciples who shed their blood for Christ in the tragic events of the last century is certainly superior to that of the martyrs of the first centuries, and in this martyrology, the children of the Armenian nation have a place of honor.”

The Pope continued, “The mystery of the Cross, so dear to the memory of your people, represented in the splendid stone crosses that adorn every corner of your land, has been lived by countless of your children as a direct participation in the chalice of the Passion of Christ. The recent suffering of Christians is the seed of unity. It is a powerful call to journey along the road of reconciliation among the Churches.”

Sociologist and Deacon Hratch Tchilingirian, in a 1990 article titled “Canonization of the Genocide Victims: Are We Ready?” wrote, “Theologically, once the victims of the genocide are canonized, the Armenian Church will be put under a dogmatic imperative. They are no longer victims, but victors in Christ. Once the victims of the genocide are canonized, we can no longer hold Hokehankists (requiem services) to mourn their death. Instead, we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy invoking their names, asking for their intercession, and we will celebrate their victory over death, in and through Christ.”

Tchilingirian continued, “Once the victims of the genocide are canonized, we can no longer hold candlelight vigils. The mournful, dark atmosphere of commemorations of the genocide will have to be changed into a festive glorious atmosphere. The victims are no longer victims, but saints who live in the glory of God. Hence, the question is whether Armenians are willing to see themselves as witness to the Death and Resurrection of Christ—for whom hundreds of thousands of Armenians gave their lives, rather than perpetually identifying themselves as the victim.”

Tchilingirian concluded that “75 years have passed, and the world seems to ‘ignore’ (as it continues to do so now for 100 years) the victims of the genocide, and thus, in our frustration, the ultimate honor that we can render our victims is to declare them as saints.”

To view Johnson’s lecture, visit http://zohrabcenter.org/2014/10/14/zicvid-prof-maxwell-johnson-speaks-on-martyrdom-in-the-early-churches-and-the-martyrs-of-the-armenian-genocide.

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PARAMUS, N.J.—The Hamazkayin New Jersey chapter organized a gathering in honor of Rakel Dink, who was in New Jersey to participate in a panel discussion at Ramapo College.

Members of the Hamazkayin N.J. Executive with Rakel Dink: (L-R) Simon Barsemian, Varto Keshishian, Rakel Dink, Ani Tchaghlasian, Floria Kasparian, Tanya Balanian, Ani Panossian Mouradian (missing from photo Talin Baghdadlian)

The gathering took place in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Talar Sarafian. Guests included Hamazkayin Central Executive member Hrair Baronian, and Prof. Ishkhan Chiftjian, who teaches at Hamburg University and was also a panelist at the Ramapo College event.

Ani Tchaghlasian thanked Dink on behalf of Hamazkayin for accepting the invitation and taking part in the evening, and presented her with a painting by artist Rudik Petrosyan.

Rakel Dink delivers remarks.

Rakel Dink spoke next. She began from her childhood, when her Kurdish-speaking father sent her to the Tuzla Armenian Children’s Camp to learn Armenian. It was there that she first met Hrant, who was 11 years old at the time.

Rakel Dink talked about the phenomenal work done at the camp to teach Turkish- and Kurdish-speaking Armenian children their mother tongue.

Years later, Hrant and Rakel took on the responsibility of running the Tuzla boarding school and camp, until the Turkish state confiscated the property under the false accusation that the camp trained Armenian fighters.

Answering a question about Hrant’s legacy, Dink noted that the family and the community continue to do Hrant’s work.

—Ani Panossian

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By Nyieri Nazarian Vosbikian

OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y.—On Fri., Oct. 24, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) Board hosted a tribute banquet at the North Hempstead Country Club to honor the remarkable career of Zarminé Boghosian, intellectual, educator, community leader, and longstanding principal of HMADS. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, awarded Boghosian the St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal of Honor and Encyclical.

Boghosian surrounded with family, including her mother, Diramayr Zabell, and brother, Archpriest Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian

Present were Archbishop Barsamian, Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, permanent representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, esteemed members of the clergy, benefactors, school board members, colleagues, former educators at HMADS, and past and present parents, alumni, and friends. The honoree’s 91-year-old mother, Diramayr Zabell Kalayjian, and eldest brother, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, pastor emeritus of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, were also present.

The evening commenced as a tribute to Boghosian, led by HMADS alumna (’88) Natalie Gabrelian. Rev. Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan, pastor of the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, delivered the opening prayer, followed by remarks and a toast from Nurhan Adarian and Arek Nisanyan, co-chairs of the tribute banquet committee; Elizabeth Keusey, a member of the HMADS Board and Education Committee; and Dr. Herand Markarian, playwright, director, actor, and community leader. The evening included a moving rendition of “Cilicia” performed by HMADS alumna (’87) Hooshere Bezdikian Kaligian, as well as other poignant musical selections dedicated to educators performed by Anahid Boghossian, the school’s music instructor.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presenting St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal

HMADS alumna (’89) Seta Tavitian Megherian narrated a slideshow exhibiting many of the milestones in Boghosian’s career and personal life. Additional speakers, including son Ara Boghosian, added their own personal anecdotes illustrating Boghosian’s contributions to the school and community, each representing one of the many aspects of her full career and life.

In appreciation of her virtues, a silver plate engraved in Armenian with the HMADS logo was gifted by School Board co-chairs Arpi Candan and Edouard Garabedian. The tributes culminated in the presentation of the St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal of Honor and Encyclical bestowed by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, and awarded by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. The Encyclical was read by Rev. Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan, after which Boghosian offered words of thanks to all present. The evening concluded with heartfelt remarks and a closing prayer delivered by Archpriest Kalayjian.

A native of Aleppo, Syria, Boghosian relocated to the U.S. in 1978 with her husband Missak and two sons, Ara and Garen. She began her teaching career in 1965-66 at the Guertassiratz Elementary School of Aleppo, upon her graduation from the AGBU Lazar Najarian Calouste Gulbenkian High School. Once in the U.S., Boghosian furthered her education and received her bachelors of science and a degree in elementary education and administration. She has taught at various institutions and has selflessly served the Armenian community in various capacities, including as a guest speaker and program coordinator for the Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey. She has also served as a member of various cultural committees.

Boghosian served as the principal of HMADS in Bayside, N.Y., for 14 years from 1987 through 2001, following the leadership of the late Sara Dadourian and Mae Kazanjian. After five years of semi-retirement, she was invited to return and continue her role as HMADS principal, a position she has held to this day.

What began as the small Hye-Bardez Nursery School in 1967 has developed into an award-winning elementary school in the New York area with Boghosian at the helm. As principal, she has encouraged learning outside the classroom through the participation of guest speakers, and instituted Heritage Week and the HMADS Science Fair, which have become HMADS traditions.

While there is no way to condense the honoree’s entire career and years of service into a few hours, the tribute was a true testament to the significant impact Zarminé Boghosian has made to the Armenian community and to HMADS as an institution.

Nyieri Nazarian Vosbikian was a member of the HMADS Class of 1989.

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NEW YORK—On Sat., Oct. 11, the 6^th annual Direct Help for the Armenian People (DHAP) concert, which was dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, took place at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, featuring the Armenian Youth Talent finalists.

The Armstring Ensemble

Opening the much-awaited occasion, concert host Harut Minasian related the importance of next year’s solemn commemoration, saying, “Today, we are living proof of our strength and will to survive.”

Then it was time for the 31 young gifted musicians, ages 10-18, to light up the stage and shine. Starting the recital were the eight young violinists of the Armstring Ensemble, comprised of Zovinar Aghavian, Aren Arakelian, Arpie Bakchian, Anthony Degoyan, Nicolas Degoyan, Griifyn Kang, Lilit Kldjian, and Nicole Mark. They offered a poignant rendition of Komitas’s beloved “Keler Tsoler.” Later in the program, they played a rousing and well-synchronized “Asturias” by Albeniz.

Tinkling the ivories with impressive technique and expression were Nareg Balian, Alin Khrimian, Nicole Khrimian, Arianna Mesrobian, Kalina Mesrobian, Dimitri Shaposhnikov, Sophie Shchuchinov, Ani Tchorbadjian, Haroutyun Tiratsuyan, and Andrew Zeroogian Wu.

Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian, founder and director of the DHAP

Khachaturyan was center stage as many of these gifted pianists presented some of his more demanding and well-known compositions, including “Toccata,” “Folk Dance,” “Sonatina,” “Dance of the Rose Maidens,” and the melodically beautiful “Adagio” from “Spartacus.”

Komitas and Khachaturyan were again the choices of several singers, who also tackled with ease compositions by Berberian, Haroutunian, Offenbach, and Spendiarov, displaying their excellent phrasing, and musicality. The performers included Zovinar Aghavian, Anja Avsharian, Nicholas Bompart, Finella Hesin, Sonya Hesin, Daniel Manucharian, Anna Mehrabyan, Julia Naldjian, and Serena Tchorbadjian.

Laura Navasardian, who confidently strode on stage carrying her cello, which was bigger than her, delighted the audience with “Etude Concentranto” by Ayvazyan. Flutists Arya and Sareen Balian showed their musical fluency in compositions by Khachaturyan and Djerbashyan. And Andrew Eurdolian displayed his technical expertise and lyrical intonation in Mozart’s lengthy and demanding “Allegro Aperto.”

Following the presentations of these young talents, which were met with a standing ovation by the audience, each young performer received a certificate, as well as a monetary gift from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in recognition of their special contribution.

The judges of the 2014 DHAP auditions included St. Vartan Cathedral Choir Director Khoren Mekanejian, baritone soloist Vagharshag Ohanian, composer and pianist Karen Hakobyan, pianists Lucine Badalyan and Karine Poghosyan, and violinist Diana Vasilyan.

In the program brochure, messages of congratulations came from Armenian Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the AGBU, Tekeyan Cultural Association, Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, and Metropolitan Opera Diva Lucine Amara, as well as renowned pianist and composer Sahan Arzruni.

No oil, but plenty of talent

In her inspirational message, Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian, the dedicated and tireless president and founder of the DHAP, related, “Especially this year, part of our heart is crying for our lost Armenians, and part is joyous for our talented youth. We Armenians don’t have oil, but we have wonderful talent as you have seen tonight.”

Amirkhanian paid tribute to the “great help and contribution” of Marina Bagdasarova, and introduced Ambassador Mnatsakanian.

The Armenian diplomat said he was “moved to see the young talent demonstrated through the power of music, which has always kept and continues to keep our spirit and integrity high.” He then presented the Naregatsi Medallion and a Certificate for Outstanding Contribution to Armenian Culture to well-known baritone soloist Vagharshag Ohanian, who has been instrumental in forming and conducting adult and children’s choral groups, as well as a young instrumental ensemble. Ohanian has performed on several international stages, including Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall, and received a degree of professor from the International Academy of Education in Yerevan’s Haybusak University.

In his message, Vagharshag Ohanian expressed his deep appreciation, and noted that the award “will make me work harder.” Then with obvious emotion, he said, “This medal belongs to my parents and teachers.”

Among the major philanthropists who supported this year’s Direct Help for the Armenian People concert were Artemis Nazarian, the AGBU, an anonymous donor “in honor of talented children who support and love the Armenian culture,” and Edward and Carmen Gulbenkian “for the talented young musicians, some of whom have had grandparents or great grandparents perish during the genocide, and who performed in their eternal memory, preserving the endurance of the Armenian nation and culture.”

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I dedicate this article to nine Armenians. Without their assistance, my odyssey would not have occurred. Their names are Sooren S. Apkarian, Arra Avakian, Nazeli Bagdasarian, Ara Baliozian, Avedis Kaprelian, Robert Khachadourian, Percy Sarkisian, John Tembeckian, and Jirair Yessayan.

Mary’s paternal grandmother, paternal half-brother (baby), and family (April 2, 1940)

Judith Movsisian was born on Sept. 23, 1945, in Washington D.C., at Old Providence Hospital, then placed in the Charity Ward. No contact with Mother was allowed. I was 25 months old when my adoption was finalized at the Montgomery Circuit Court in Rockville, Md. My original birth certificate was sealed permanently. My identity was now Mary Louise Letts, daughter of Lieutenant Commander David D. Letts, U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C., and his wife, Eathel G. McCallum Letts. In 1983, Mom Letts hired a private source to get information about my birth mother.

My determination to seek Mother’s exact location became a daily practice of logging every trail, writing or calling public agencies, my congressman, doctors, ministers of churches in the greater D.C. area, private investigators, genealogists, a U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C., judge, and search organizations. I included a photo of my class from Central Elementary School and myself, plus my home and school phone numbers. I had sent more than 800 penned letters at the conclusion of my odyssey.

Everyone wanted to help me, Mary L. Foess, from a rural, farming community in Vassar, Mich. Children at the three-story brick school knew what their teacher, the sleuthhound, was up to! Some parents of my students, teachers, even our principal, Tom Matuszewski, pitched in.

A package to my newly found brother broke the 41-year-old code of silence: He had an older sister! My Armenian genesis had jump-started. The secrecy vanished. How I found my Armenian uncle, Korean, required persistence. My primal instinct took over; I was unstoppable. I didn’t know then that I was exactly like Mother and Father: fiercely independent. Even the private source that Mom Letts had hired to locate my family told me to slow down. I was euphoric. Uncle was still alive! Dynamite had blasted through all the pretense. Like a cat at a mouse hole, I patiently waited to pounce, to seek what I had wanted badly. Soon this dear man, a lawyer who had pled two cases for the U.S. Supreme Court, would see me.

Mary in Tacoma Park, Md., (June of 1946)

Though my methods were always honest, this process included a touch of charm. The results bore fruit for the next eight years. Our link to each other was an unbreakable DNA-chain that reached back to ancient history: the Euphrates River Valley, possibly 5,000 years! I was Grandmother’s only female descendant who followed Mother. The mitochondrial DNA was already passed on to my three daughters, and soon to be part of three granddaughters, ad infinitum. I wasted no time weaseling a way to get Uncle’s address and phone number. I was about to crash into his “known” family tree like a catapult hurling missiles. I enabled his phone to ring! His attachment to me was just around the corner. I was 32 years younger than he. We located his home in greater Chicago, Ill., on March 30, 1986. My husband, John, and son, Tim, were a part of this adventure.

Uncle had not seen a photo of me and yet recognized me instantly. We were both on uncharted territory. Uncle and I had a similar appearance and demeanor. Clever, smart Uncle was now mine to claim. He knew who I was the moment our huge, dark, brown eyes met in unison. A brief but intense stare ensued for 15 seconds. He said, “Please come in.”

Our assessment of each other could not be avoided. Through his kitchen door we had bonded, within a micro-second. His guests would soon be John, Mary, and Tim. Nervous, I said something to him. He then piped, “That’s what I say in court!” His kitchen countertop Formica was the identical color and pattern as ours, his living room had the same tongue-and-groove wooden ceiling, and his car was the same year, make, and color as ours at home was, but was a sedan, instead of a station wagon.

Uncle got out a box of photos. Gazing at our son, his eyes sparkled, his smile was infectious, and his facial manifestation of rapture filled the entire room. Uncle went over to his living room window to sit across from Tim, his grand-nephew. Bragging about his very first car, my uncle showed our son the picture. Uncle loved our teenager!

Walking back to Uncle’s kitchen door to leave with my husband and Tim, I saw Uncle’s eyes close up. Sadly, he looked directly into my eyes to speak these words, “There’s nothing I can do!” He was referring to my seeing Mother. I looked at him with implied forgiveness.

Mary teaching kindergartners, Flint, Mich. (Spring of 1967)

My determination grew as the calendar kept moving ahead to the next month. My sense was focused on, still, the need to just keep anticipating another move in the making. No one could advise me. Uncle had hinted in an aggressive tone during our second visit that I had a brother. He joked with me, then out of his mouth came a first name in a sentence about his nephew. His move created a stage for me to untangle the web, then discover something hidden. He was leveling the playing field for me! For six months I pursued locating my brother. A lone wolf searcher, I relied on public records. It paid off! Lastly, I contacted a secretary of a large school system who had access to all high school yearbooks. By then, I realized Brother’s full name, finally, after chasing every lead to contact people! A photo—his—came to our mailbox 21 days after The Armenian Weekly, July 3, 1986 edition Letter-to-the-Editor, penned by yours truly, was published. Insane with joy, my body became one with my spirit. I bonded with my handsome Brother, just by seeing his senior photo. I rushed to our telephone to call every friend and adoptive relative I had. By 10 p.m., I called Mom Letts to tell her. Without her, none of this reunification would have happened.

On Dec. 11, 1986, our telephone rang. It was Brother! Six days earlier I had sent a large box full of photos and documents to his residence. My persistent, stubborn refusal to give up had yielded results. The next few months were chocked full of our making calls to each other. I became attached to his children and made three visits to California to see them. In June 1988, I formed an organization, Bonding by Blood, Unlimited, a non-profit that helps people find their biological families. A local television news reporter came to our Central Elementary School in Vassar, Mich., to interview me while my class was working at their desks. My third graders loved every single minute. In 1990, I met my father’s three younger brothers at a nation-wide reunion in Culpeper, Va.

One day while looking at my “based-on-my-book” website, www.ArmenianAncestryBook.com, a man claiming to be my relative e-mailed me on the site’s address! My relative, Aram Mahtesian, 83, had found me! Stumbling onto my site, he had recognized the people in my photos! His miraculous message shook me to the core.

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New York—In honor of United States’ heroic humanitarian efforts to assist survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Near East Foundation Chairman Shant Mardirossian will be presenting the Freedom Award to Mr. Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family, at the 8th Annual ANCA Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) Banquet. The banquet will be held on Sun., Dec. 7, at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel in New York City.

Shant Mardirossian will present the Freedom Award to Robert Morgenthau at this year’s ANCA-ER banquet in New York City on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014.

“As we approach the Armenian Genocide centennial, Mardirossian’s participation in honoring the efforts of the Morgenthau family is a tribute to the unprecedented U.S. humanitarian assistance campaign which saved at least one million men, women and children from certain perish,” said ANCA-ER Board Member James Sahagian. “Under Mardirossian’s and the Near East Foundation Board of Directors’ capable leadership, their mission to build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa continues to this day.”

Mr. Mardirossian has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Near East Foundation since 2002 and its Chair since 2007. He is a Partner and the Chief Operating Officer of Kohlberg & Company, a middle-market private-equity firm, and serves on the board of directors for several companies controlled by Kohlberg & Co. Mr. Mardirossian was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1969. He received a B.B.A. and an M.B.A. from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University.

At its Annual Gala on Nov. 2, the ANCA Western Region (ANCA-WR) recognized the humanitarian spirit of Near East Foundation leaders Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Cleveland H. Dodge, and Jackie Coogan, who embarked on one of the greatest international humanitarian efforts launched in the history of the American people. Mardirossian, along with other NEF representatives, joined the ANCA-WR leadership on stage to accept the award with an overflow audience of over 1,000 greeting them with a standing ovation.

“For most, the story of the Near East Relief is largely unknown, but thanks to the ANCA, and the many dedicated individuals and historians around the world, that is about to change,” said Mardirossian in his acceptance speech on behalf of the Near East Foundation.

The ANCA-ER Banquet will begin with an elegant cocktail reception and silent auction at 4 p.m., followed by dinner and awards ceremony at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit http://www.anca.org/erbanquet. For more information, please email erbanquet@anca.org or call (917) 428-1918.

The ANCA-ER Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that supports the ANCA-ER in outreach to Armenian American communities.

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