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REP. SHERMAN CALLS FOR PERMANENT DISPLAY OF ARMENIAN ORPHAN RUG
October 26, 2013 - 11:26 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Congressman Brad Sherman, in a letter to President
Obama's Chief of Staff Denis McDonough criticizing the White House's
decision to keep the Armenian Orphan Rug in storage, has called for the
permanent public display of this historic artwork at the Smithsonian
Institution, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Noting that, "an exhibit to display this relic at the Smithsonian was
canceled due to the White House's inexplicable decision not to loan
out the rug," Representative Sherman stressed that, "this unique work
should not be hidden away in storage. Instead, it should be displayed
on a permanent basis at the Smithsonian. It is in our national interest
to recognize and remember the past. We must acknowledge and learn
from the tragic crimes against humanity that orphaned the weavers
of this rug to ensure that they are never repeated. I urge the White
House to take this intricate piece of history out of storage and to
display it at the Smithsonian permanently."
"We join with Armenian Americans in California and across America in
thanking Congressman Sherman for his principled leadership in seeking
a prominent and permanent public display for this powerful artistic
symbol of shared American and Armenian heritage," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian.
The ANCA launched a grassroots campaign calling upon the White House
and Congress to secure a prominent and permanent public display of
the historic rug, woven by Armenian Genocide orphans and presented
to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 in appreciation for U.S.
humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Turkey's murder of over
1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923.
The Armenian orphan rug measures 11'7" x 18'5" and is comprised of
4,404,206 individual knots. It took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir
Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society 10 months to weave. A
label on the back of the rug, in large hand-written letters, reads
"IN GOLDEN RULE GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT COOLIDGE."
Additional information about the history of the Armenian Orphan Rug is
available in Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian's book, "President Coolidge and
the Armenian Orphan Rug," published on Oct 20, 2013, by the Armenian
Cultural Foundation and soon to be available on Amazon.com.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/171800/
From: A. Papazian
October 26, 2013 - 11:26 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Congressman Brad Sherman, in a letter to President
Obama's Chief of Staff Denis McDonough criticizing the White House's
decision to keep the Armenian Orphan Rug in storage, has called for the
permanent public display of this historic artwork at the Smithsonian
Institution, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Noting that, "an exhibit to display this relic at the Smithsonian was
canceled due to the White House's inexplicable decision not to loan
out the rug," Representative Sherman stressed that, "this unique work
should not be hidden away in storage. Instead, it should be displayed
on a permanent basis at the Smithsonian. It is in our national interest
to recognize and remember the past. We must acknowledge and learn
from the tragic crimes against humanity that orphaned the weavers
of this rug to ensure that they are never repeated. I urge the White
House to take this intricate piece of history out of storage and to
display it at the Smithsonian permanently."
"We join with Armenian Americans in California and across America in
thanking Congressman Sherman for his principled leadership in seeking
a prominent and permanent public display for this powerful artistic
symbol of shared American and Armenian heritage," said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian.
The ANCA launched a grassroots campaign calling upon the White House
and Congress to secure a prominent and permanent public display of
the historic rug, woven by Armenian Genocide orphans and presented
to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 in appreciation for U.S.
humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Turkey's murder of over
1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923.
The Armenian orphan rug measures 11'7" x 18'5" and is comprised of
4,404,206 individual knots. It took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir
Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society 10 months to weave. A
label on the back of the rug, in large hand-written letters, reads
"IN GOLDEN RULE GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT COOLIDGE."
Additional information about the history of the Armenian Orphan Rug is
available in Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian's book, "President Coolidge and
the Armenian Orphan Rug," published on Oct 20, 2013, by the Armenian
Cultural Foundation and soon to be available on Amazon.com.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/171800/
From: A. Papazian