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CONGRESS REMEMBERS A NEVER FORGOTTEN SURVIVOR OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
armradio.am
04.04.2008 10:34
On March 31, 2008, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) paid tribute
on the House floor in memory of Armenian Genocide survivor Askouhy
Jallyan-Vassilian who passed away on February 27th, 2008, shortly after
celebrating her 94th birthday. Vassilian, who was present during the
House Foreign Affairs Committee markup of H. Res. 106, the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, on October 10, 2007, lived in Cong. Pallone's
district, and was one of the remaining survivors of the genocide.
Following Cong. Pallone's remarks, her son, Dr. Asbed Vassilian, a
professor of chemistry and director of the Armenian Studies Program
at Rutgers University in New Jersey, reflected on Cong. Pallone's
statement with the following:
Congressman Frank Pallone's remarks are really touching, and I am
personally grateful that his office, upon your request, made those
remarks. Regarding my mother, she just wanted justice to prevail
and that all those who perished in 1915 and who did not have any
descendents as she did as a survivor, should be recognized and their
memories should eternally be kept alive. Across from her bed, she
had the picture of her father, Nazaret, who she lost when she was ten
months old. She never knew him. My grandmother had the picture above
her bed all the time she was alive, and my mother kept it after my
grandmother died and put it across her bed so that every night she
would look at it before going to bed.
Having seen and experienced the good, the bad and the ugly, my mother
had a calming effect on the new generation whenever they came and
complained about the problems they were having in their lives. She
would tell them to be happy with what they have, and not sad or angry
with what they lack; mainly, count your blessings and thank God. She
would tell them to look at the problems with the microscope inverted:
rather than seeing small things big, try to see the big things
small. She was a happy, energetic, sharp minded, and most importantly,
content, reconciled with her life, with its ups and downs. She was
thankful to the St. Stepanos Church community for giving her the
spiritual nourishment and to her new host country, the United States,
for taking care of her over so many years. I will always miss her.
The following is the text of the remarks offered by Cong. Pallone
IN HONOR OF ASKOUHY JALLYAN-VASSILIAN - Madam Speaker, I rise today
to honor Askouhy Jallyan-Vassilian and her dedication to her community
and the Armenian people. Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian was a survivor of the
genocide inflicted upon the Armenian people. She was the embodiment
of the enduring human spirit.
Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian was born Askouhy Jallyan on February 12, 1914,
in Orfa, Turkey. Her mother, Khanem, had married in 1913 and was 18
years old when she gave birth to her only daughter. Khanem was widowed
in 1915 when her husband, Nazaret, was murdered. Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian
was able to flee the horrors of genocide when she escaped with her
mother to neighboring Syria.
Later, Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian married her husband Missak
Vassilian at the age of 19. Together they raised three sons and a
daughter. She was also the proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren
and 12 great-grandchildren. Her son, Asbed Vassilian, is currently a
professor of chemistry at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey,
and is the head of that school's Armenian studies program.
On October 10, 2007, Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian attended a markup session
of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs as it
worked on a resolution recognizing the deplorable deprivation of
human rights that occurred during the Armenian genocide. She had
waited 92 years for the United States Congress to recognize the
genocide and suffering that her people had endured at the hands of
hate and intolerance.
Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian passed away on February 27, 2008. She
will be remembered for her devotion to her Armenian heritage and
her commitment to the cause of those Armenians who suffered wanton
violence and cruelty.
Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in
celebrating the life of Askouhy Jallyan-Vassilian. Her legacy will
continue to serve as a reminder of the audacity of human resilience."
armradio.am
04.04.2008 10:34
On March 31, 2008, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) paid tribute
on the House floor in memory of Armenian Genocide survivor Askouhy
Jallyan-Vassilian who passed away on February 27th, 2008, shortly after
celebrating her 94th birthday. Vassilian, who was present during the
House Foreign Affairs Committee markup of H. Res. 106, the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, on October 10, 2007, lived in Cong. Pallone's
district, and was one of the remaining survivors of the genocide.
Following Cong. Pallone's remarks, her son, Dr. Asbed Vassilian, a
professor of chemistry and director of the Armenian Studies Program
at Rutgers University in New Jersey, reflected on Cong. Pallone's
statement with the following:
Congressman Frank Pallone's remarks are really touching, and I am
personally grateful that his office, upon your request, made those
remarks. Regarding my mother, she just wanted justice to prevail
and that all those who perished in 1915 and who did not have any
descendents as she did as a survivor, should be recognized and their
memories should eternally be kept alive. Across from her bed, she
had the picture of her father, Nazaret, who she lost when she was ten
months old. She never knew him. My grandmother had the picture above
her bed all the time she was alive, and my mother kept it after my
grandmother died and put it across her bed so that every night she
would look at it before going to bed.
Having seen and experienced the good, the bad and the ugly, my mother
had a calming effect on the new generation whenever they came and
complained about the problems they were having in their lives. She
would tell them to be happy with what they have, and not sad or angry
with what they lack; mainly, count your blessings and thank God. She
would tell them to look at the problems with the microscope inverted:
rather than seeing small things big, try to see the big things
small. She was a happy, energetic, sharp minded, and most importantly,
content, reconciled with her life, with its ups and downs. She was
thankful to the St. Stepanos Church community for giving her the
spiritual nourishment and to her new host country, the United States,
for taking care of her over so many years. I will always miss her.
The following is the text of the remarks offered by Cong. Pallone
IN HONOR OF ASKOUHY JALLYAN-VASSILIAN - Madam Speaker, I rise today
to honor Askouhy Jallyan-Vassilian and her dedication to her community
and the Armenian people. Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian was a survivor of the
genocide inflicted upon the Armenian people. She was the embodiment
of the enduring human spirit.
Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian was born Askouhy Jallyan on February 12, 1914,
in Orfa, Turkey. Her mother, Khanem, had married in 1913 and was 18
years old when she gave birth to her only daughter. Khanem was widowed
in 1915 when her husband, Nazaret, was murdered. Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian
was able to flee the horrors of genocide when she escaped with her
mother to neighboring Syria.
Later, Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian married her husband Missak
Vassilian at the age of 19. Together they raised three sons and a
daughter. She was also the proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren
and 12 great-grandchildren. Her son, Asbed Vassilian, is currently a
professor of chemistry at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey,
and is the head of that school's Armenian studies program.
On October 10, 2007, Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian attended a markup session
of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs as it
worked on a resolution recognizing the deplorable deprivation of
human rights that occurred during the Armenian genocide. She had
waited 92 years for the United States Congress to recognize the
genocide and suffering that her people had endured at the hands of
hate and intolerance.
Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian passed away on February 27, 2008. She
will be remembered for her devotion to her Armenian heritage and
her commitment to the cause of those Armenians who suffered wanton
violence and cruelty.
Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in
celebrating the life of Askouhy Jallyan-Vassilian. Her legacy will
continue to serve as a reminder of the audacity of human resilience."