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HERITAGE PARK MONUMENT UNVEILED
By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff
May 3, 2012
Photo by Jirair Hovsepian
PEABODY, Mass. - The Armenian Genocide monument that will be the
focal point of the Armenian Heritage Park in Boston later this year
was unveiled at a reception sponsored and hosted by the Knights and
Daughters of Vartan at the birthplace of that monument, A&A Industries.
A&A Industries, owned and operated by Anahid and Aurelian Mardiros
and their sons, is a high-precision cutting facility which specializes
mostly in hightech applications. The Mardiros family has donated the
sculpture to the Armenian Heritage Park.
Guests strolled around the facilities and took pictures in front of
the abstract sculpture, a split dodecahedron designed by architect
Donald Tellalian. Cafe-style small tables were set on the floor of
the factory, and food and drinks lent the event a light atmosphere.
The sculpture, when it eventually makes its way to its permanent home,
will be mounted above a reflecting pool. It will be reconfigured
annually.
A joyous Anahid Mardiros, who was happily playing with her
grandchildren, was both relieved and delighted that the sculpture
was finished. "It's like a baby that took two years to have," she said.
She added that she was grateful for the support of close friends in
realizing this project.
Ani Stepanian of Belmont, whose husband, Nelson, chaired the event,
was happy with the night's turnout. "You have people from different
segments of the community. That is kind of perfect considering what
the monument signifies."
The program started with Sevag Khatchadourian singing the Armenian
and American national anthems. Then, dancers from the Sayat Nova
Dance Company, in which Vartan Mardiros is a dancer, performed to
the delight of the crowd.
James Kalustian, the president of the Armenian Heritage Park
Foundation, thanked the Knights of Vartan for sponsoring the night's
event and for being the first organization to support the project,
as well the Mardiros family.
"We owe them an undying debt of gratitude," he said. "Donald envisioned
it and the Mardiroses realized it."
"Many people said it couldn't happen. Others said it shouldn't happen.
But now, we're a few weeks away" from its unveiling, Kalustian said.
Tentatively the parcel is supposed to be finished sometime late in
May or in early June. "The park is dedicated to the memory of the
victims of the Armenian Genocide and to those who came here to seek
new lives," Kalustian said.
The sculpture, he noted, will have 24-26 different configurations,
which symbolize the dispersion and coming together of immigrants from
different shores.
Kalustian introduced Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian,
crediting his perseverance during his time as a state representative
for the Armenians getting the parcel in the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
Koutoujian praised the Knights for the their support of various
projects in the community and the two local Armenian schools, St.
Stephen's Armenian Elementary School and the Armenian Sisters' Academy,
as well as the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
"They do this good work without anyone knowing," he said.
He gave credit to the late Peabody mayor, Peter Torigian, for doing
so much to help the community in general and the Armenian-American
community in particular. Mayor Edward Bettencourt, who spoke next,
continued with praise for the work of the late Torigian. "I really
feel honored to be here. The Armenian community is a very important
part of the city of Peabody. The architect responsible for making
this city was Peter Torigian. He built it into the great city it is."
In a touching story, first-time mayor Bettencourt said how when he
was a student in high school, Torigian came to speak to the students
and left an indelible impression on the future mayor.
Bettencourt noted that he is going to continue the tradition of
commemorating the Armenian Genocide in the city annually with the
participation of high school and middle school students, adding that
the program had taken place earlier that day. "I want students to
come and learn what evil is so that something like that does not
happen again."
Also present at the event was Torigian's widow, Jackie.
From: Baghdasarian
By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff
May 3, 2012
Photo by Jirair Hovsepian
PEABODY, Mass. - The Armenian Genocide monument that will be the
focal point of the Armenian Heritage Park in Boston later this year
was unveiled at a reception sponsored and hosted by the Knights and
Daughters of Vartan at the birthplace of that monument, A&A Industries.
A&A Industries, owned and operated by Anahid and Aurelian Mardiros
and their sons, is a high-precision cutting facility which specializes
mostly in hightech applications. The Mardiros family has donated the
sculpture to the Armenian Heritage Park.
Guests strolled around the facilities and took pictures in front of
the abstract sculpture, a split dodecahedron designed by architect
Donald Tellalian. Cafe-style small tables were set on the floor of
the factory, and food and drinks lent the event a light atmosphere.
The sculpture, when it eventually makes its way to its permanent home,
will be mounted above a reflecting pool. It will be reconfigured
annually.
A joyous Anahid Mardiros, who was happily playing with her
grandchildren, was both relieved and delighted that the sculpture
was finished. "It's like a baby that took two years to have," she said.
She added that she was grateful for the support of close friends in
realizing this project.
Ani Stepanian of Belmont, whose husband, Nelson, chaired the event,
was happy with the night's turnout. "You have people from different
segments of the community. That is kind of perfect considering what
the monument signifies."
The program started with Sevag Khatchadourian singing the Armenian
and American national anthems. Then, dancers from the Sayat Nova
Dance Company, in which Vartan Mardiros is a dancer, performed to
the delight of the crowd.
James Kalustian, the president of the Armenian Heritage Park
Foundation, thanked the Knights of Vartan for sponsoring the night's
event and for being the first organization to support the project,
as well the Mardiros family.
"We owe them an undying debt of gratitude," he said. "Donald envisioned
it and the Mardiroses realized it."
"Many people said it couldn't happen. Others said it shouldn't happen.
But now, we're a few weeks away" from its unveiling, Kalustian said.
Tentatively the parcel is supposed to be finished sometime late in
May or in early June. "The park is dedicated to the memory of the
victims of the Armenian Genocide and to those who came here to seek
new lives," Kalustian said.
The sculpture, he noted, will have 24-26 different configurations,
which symbolize the dispersion and coming together of immigrants from
different shores.
Kalustian introduced Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian,
crediting his perseverance during his time as a state representative
for the Armenians getting the parcel in the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
Koutoujian praised the Knights for the their support of various
projects in the community and the two local Armenian schools, St.
Stephen's Armenian Elementary School and the Armenian Sisters' Academy,
as well as the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
"They do this good work without anyone knowing," he said.
He gave credit to the late Peabody mayor, Peter Torigian, for doing
so much to help the community in general and the Armenian-American
community in particular. Mayor Edward Bettencourt, who spoke next,
continued with praise for the work of the late Torigian. "I really
feel honored to be here. The Armenian community is a very important
part of the city of Peabody. The architect responsible for making
this city was Peter Torigian. He built it into the great city it is."
In a touching story, first-time mayor Bettencourt said how when he
was a student in high school, Torigian came to speak to the students
and left an indelible impression on the future mayor.
Bettencourt noted that he is going to continue the tradition of
commemorating the Armenian Genocide in the city annually with the
participation of high school and middle school students, adding that
the program had taken place earlier that day. "I want students to
come and learn what evil is so that something like that does not
happen again."
Also present at the event was Torigian's widow, Jackie.
From: Baghdasarian