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Armenian Reporter
Jan 5 2012
Detroit community fundraises for Baku Armenian memorial
by Julia Papiyants
Published: Thursday January 05, 2012
Southfield, Mich. - Beginning in 1988, sparked by the independence
movement of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabagh and accompanied by
the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Baku and Sumgait pogroms
targeted the historic Armenian minority in Azerbaijan. Mobs of
extremist Azeris attacked and killed Armenians in streets and in their
homes, and until today, the survivors have lived a similar fate as
those from the 1915 genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were
forced to flee their homes and leave their lives behind.
Since then, many have arrived in the United States and have slowly
established their lives in different states, creating a newer
community of Armenian refugee-immigrants.
More than two decades have passed since the fateful days of the
pogroms. In recognition of these devastating crimes against humanity,
and specifically against Armenians, St. John Armenian Church of
Greater Detroit plans to place a memorial on its grounds. In order to
raise its goal of $35,000, the Baku Memorial Monument Planning
Committee organized a benefit dinner for December 4.
After several weeks of planning, the event was anticipated to be an
enormous success - and it did not disappoint. Father Garabed Kochakian
blessed the table in front of a full house, and the night began on a
perfect note. From the splendid food to the beautifully lit and
decorated venue, both generously provided by Garri and Kristina
Mazmanov at their restaurant, Allegro, in West Bloomfield, Michigan,
to the help of volunteer staff, and finally, to the traditional
Armenian music played by Garri Hovakimian, Alex Mazmanian, and Tamara
Yesayan, the night's success was proof that Armenians would never
forget the injustices committed against their people.
The benefit dinner succeeded in raising over $8,000, a large portion
of the total amount needed to erect the monument.
Still, the goal has not yet been met and additional fundraising is
imperative. The Planning Committee has set an additional date for an
event in February at the church hall, and St. John's looks forward to
raising sufficient amount of money needed to make this dream a reality
sometime soon.
To contribute to this endeavor, a tax deductible donation can be made
by check, payable to St. John Armenian Church with "Baku Memorial
Fund" in the memo section. Credit cards and other forms of donation
are welcomed and can be made by calling St. John Armenian Church at
(248) 569 - 3405.
For more information, please visit www.stjohnsarmenianchurch.org.To
stay updated via e-mail for additional information on this event and
all future events, or for pictures from this fundraiser, please
contact Julia Papiyants at [email protected].
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-01-05-detroit-community-fundraises-for-baku-armenian-memorial-
Jan 5 2012
Detroit community fundraises for Baku Armenian memorial
by Julia Papiyants
Published: Thursday January 05, 2012
Southfield, Mich. - Beginning in 1988, sparked by the independence
movement of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabagh and accompanied by
the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Baku and Sumgait pogroms
targeted the historic Armenian minority in Azerbaijan. Mobs of
extremist Azeris attacked and killed Armenians in streets and in their
homes, and until today, the survivors have lived a similar fate as
those from the 1915 genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were
forced to flee their homes and leave their lives behind.
Since then, many have arrived in the United States and have slowly
established their lives in different states, creating a newer
community of Armenian refugee-immigrants.
More than two decades have passed since the fateful days of the
pogroms. In recognition of these devastating crimes against humanity,
and specifically against Armenians, St. John Armenian Church of
Greater Detroit plans to place a memorial on its grounds. In order to
raise its goal of $35,000, the Baku Memorial Monument Planning
Committee organized a benefit dinner for December 4.
After several weeks of planning, the event was anticipated to be an
enormous success - and it did not disappoint. Father Garabed Kochakian
blessed the table in front of a full house, and the night began on a
perfect note. From the splendid food to the beautifully lit and
decorated venue, both generously provided by Garri and Kristina
Mazmanov at their restaurant, Allegro, in West Bloomfield, Michigan,
to the help of volunteer staff, and finally, to the traditional
Armenian music played by Garri Hovakimian, Alex Mazmanian, and Tamara
Yesayan, the night's success was proof that Armenians would never
forget the injustices committed against their people.
The benefit dinner succeeded in raising over $8,000, a large portion
of the total amount needed to erect the monument.
Still, the goal has not yet been met and additional fundraising is
imperative. The Planning Committee has set an additional date for an
event in February at the church hall, and St. John's looks forward to
raising sufficient amount of money needed to make this dream a reality
sometime soon.
To contribute to this endeavor, a tax deductible donation can be made
by check, payable to St. John Armenian Church with "Baku Memorial
Fund" in the memo section. Credit cards and other forms of donation
are welcomed and can be made by calling St. John Armenian Church at
(248) 569 - 3405.
For more information, please visit www.stjohnsarmenianchurch.org.To
stay updated via e-mail for additional information on this event and
all future events, or for pictures from this fundraiser, please
contact Julia Papiyants at [email protected].
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-01-05-detroit-community-fundraises-for-baku-armenian-memorial-