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PROCLAMATIONS PRESENTED TO SURVIVORS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT CENTER IN JAMAICA PLAIN
Boston Globe, MA
June 18 2013
Posted by Matt Rocheleau June 18, 2013 02:57 PM
By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent
Three local legislators visited the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center in Jamaica Plain to present proclamations to five residents
there who are survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
The special meeting last week was arranged after the 29th annual
Massachusetts State House Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of
1915, which had been scheduled for April 19, was cancelled due to the
Boston Marathon bombings days earlier, according to a press release.
"We are so touched by their visit," said a statement from Lalig
Musserian of Belmont, who helped coordinate the meeting. "The
friendship and support of the Armenian community was very evident in
the time these legislators took to visit the ANRC, which is a warm
and loving home away from home for so many of our seniors."
On June 10, State Senator William Brownsberger of Belmont and State
Representatives Jonathan Hecht of Watertown and Dave Rogers of
Cambridge read and presented proclamations to survivors Naomi Armen,
Agnes Aznavorian, Armine Bagdikian, Azadouhi Donabedian, and Vasgen
Hovanesian, officials said.
"I was so pleasantly surprised when the senator and the representatives
stayed for so long to talk with the residents and staff at the
reception following the presentation," said a statement from Siran
Salibian, director of activities at the nursing home. "I thought
they would come and leave quickly, but it was wonderful to see them
visiting with our residents, shaking hands and offering kind words
and congratulations."
"It was wonderful to meet the legislators and hear from them
directly why it was so important for them to come to us to present
the proclamations to the five survivors," added Karla Fleming, the
center's executive director.
Last month, Brownsberger and Hecht presented a proclamation to survivor
Siran Kassabian during the May 12 Mother's Day Divine Liturgy at
St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, officials said.
"The Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain
is a very special place. It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet
such wonderful senior citizens - people with deep history to share,"
said a statement from Brownsberger.
"It was an absolute honor to meet and recognize these five
individuals," added Hecht. "They endured unspeakable pain during and
after the Armenian Genocide, but through their strength and courage
they have contributed richly to the fabric of Massachusetts, including
by educating subsequent generations about the truth of the genocide."
A proclamation was also presented in May to Nellie Nazarian by
Jirair Hovsepian of Belmont, who travelled to Haverhill to deliver
the proclamation in her home, officials said.
"Of all the honors I have experienced so far as a public official,
none equal the chance to pay tribute to these courageous individuals,"
Rogers said in a statement. "Their perseverance in the face of tragedy
is a great testament to the dignity of the human spirit."
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/jamaica_plain/2013/06/proclamations_presented_to_survivors_of_armenian_g enocide_at.html
Boston Globe, MA
June 18 2013
Posted by Matt Rocheleau June 18, 2013 02:57 PM
By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent
Three local legislators visited the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center in Jamaica Plain to present proclamations to five residents
there who are survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
The special meeting last week was arranged after the 29th annual
Massachusetts State House Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of
1915, which had been scheduled for April 19, was cancelled due to the
Boston Marathon bombings days earlier, according to a press release.
"We are so touched by their visit," said a statement from Lalig
Musserian of Belmont, who helped coordinate the meeting. "The
friendship and support of the Armenian community was very evident in
the time these legislators took to visit the ANRC, which is a warm
and loving home away from home for so many of our seniors."
On June 10, State Senator William Brownsberger of Belmont and State
Representatives Jonathan Hecht of Watertown and Dave Rogers of
Cambridge read and presented proclamations to survivors Naomi Armen,
Agnes Aznavorian, Armine Bagdikian, Azadouhi Donabedian, and Vasgen
Hovanesian, officials said.
"I was so pleasantly surprised when the senator and the representatives
stayed for so long to talk with the residents and staff at the
reception following the presentation," said a statement from Siran
Salibian, director of activities at the nursing home. "I thought
they would come and leave quickly, but it was wonderful to see them
visiting with our residents, shaking hands and offering kind words
and congratulations."
"It was wonderful to meet the legislators and hear from them
directly why it was so important for them to come to us to present
the proclamations to the five survivors," added Karla Fleming, the
center's executive director.
Last month, Brownsberger and Hecht presented a proclamation to survivor
Siran Kassabian during the May 12 Mother's Day Divine Liturgy at
St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, officials said.
"The Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain
is a very special place. It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet
such wonderful senior citizens - people with deep history to share,"
said a statement from Brownsberger.
"It was an absolute honor to meet and recognize these five
individuals," added Hecht. "They endured unspeakable pain during and
after the Armenian Genocide, but through their strength and courage
they have contributed richly to the fabric of Massachusetts, including
by educating subsequent generations about the truth of the genocide."
A proclamation was also presented in May to Nellie Nazarian by
Jirair Hovsepian of Belmont, who travelled to Haverhill to deliver
the proclamation in her home, officials said.
"Of all the honors I have experienced so far as a public official,
none equal the chance to pay tribute to these courageous individuals,"
Rogers said in a statement. "Their perseverance in the face of tragedy
is a great testament to the dignity of the human spirit."
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/jamaica_plain/2013/06/proclamations_presented_to_survivors_of_armenian_g enocide_at.html