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Markey Praises White House Display of Armenian Orphan Rug
Contact: Giselle Barry (Markey) 202-224-2742
Washington (April 30, 2014) ` Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today
announced that the treasured `Armenian Orphan Rug' will be displayed
later this year and praised President Obama and the White House for
working to display this important symbol. The Armenian Orphan Rug was
made by survivors of the Armenian Genocide and presented to
then-President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 in appreciation of American
assistance to the survivors of the genocide. It took Armenian girls in
the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society ten months to
weave. The rug could be displayed as early as late summer or early
fall and a timeline for exhibition will be finalized but the White
House soon. A venue for the display that is appropriate, sensitive and
open to the public is currently being sought.
`The Armenian Orphan Rug is an important symbol of the longstanding
friendship between America and Armenia,' said Senator Markey.
`Displaying this significant piece of history will serve as reminder
that we will never forget the Armenian Genocide and highlight the
continued need to work towards its proper recognition. I commend
President Obama and the White House for working with me and my
Congressional colleagues to ensure that this rug is given the historic
exhibition is truly deserves.'
`The display of this tangible expression of gratitude for America's
humanitarian intervention to save the survivors of the Armenian
Genocide is a positive development,' said Armenian Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.
`We thank Senator Markey for his continuing efforts to seek the
release and respectful display of the Armenian Orphan Rug, a powerful
symbol of the American humanitarian spirit, woven by child survivors
of the Armenian Genocide,' said Aram S. Hamparian, Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee of America. `The fact that we are,
today, speaking about finally holding an event for a historic piece of
art, that has been hidden away for decades, is a strong statement
about the tireless leadership of our Congressional friends in finally
securing the release of this iconic American artifact.'
Senator Markey wrote to President Obama in December to urge him to
make the rug available for display, consistent with the need to
protect and preserve this precious reminder of a dark chapter in the
history of Armenia and the world.
Contact: Giselle Barry (Markey) 202-224-2742
Washington (April 30, 2014) ` Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today
announced that the treasured `Armenian Orphan Rug' will be displayed
later this year and praised President Obama and the White House for
working to display this important symbol. The Armenian Orphan Rug was
made by survivors of the Armenian Genocide and presented to
then-President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 in appreciation of American
assistance to the survivors of the genocide. It took Armenian girls in
the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society ten months to
weave. The rug could be displayed as early as late summer or early
fall and a timeline for exhibition will be finalized but the White
House soon. A venue for the display that is appropriate, sensitive and
open to the public is currently being sought.
`The Armenian Orphan Rug is an important symbol of the longstanding
friendship between America and Armenia,' said Senator Markey.
`Displaying this significant piece of history will serve as reminder
that we will never forget the Armenian Genocide and highlight the
continued need to work towards its proper recognition. I commend
President Obama and the White House for working with me and my
Congressional colleagues to ensure that this rug is given the historic
exhibition is truly deserves.'
`The display of this tangible expression of gratitude for America's
humanitarian intervention to save the survivors of the Armenian
Genocide is a positive development,' said Armenian Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.
`We thank Senator Markey for his continuing efforts to seek the
release and respectful display of the Armenian Orphan Rug, a powerful
symbol of the American humanitarian spirit, woven by child survivors
of the Armenian Genocide,' said Aram S. Hamparian, Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee of America. `The fact that we are,
today, speaking about finally holding an event for a historic piece of
art, that has been hidden away for decades, is a strong statement
about the tireless leadership of our Congressional friends in finally
securing the release of this iconic American artifact.'
Senator Markey wrote to President Obama in December to urge him to
make the rug available for display, consistent with the need to
protect and preserve this precious reminder of a dark chapter in the
history of Armenia and the world.