WASHINGTON–Armenian Americans from throughout the nation’s capital, joined with Armenian Parliamentarian Lilit Galstyan, Armenian Ambassador Tatoul Markarian and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern United States to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association.
The reception and program, hosted at the Armenian Embassy and co-chaired by Ambassador Markarian, featured a moving medal and commendation ceremony during which Hamazkayin Central Executive U.S. Representative Edward Misserlian recounted the decades of self-less contributions to Armenian culture made by renowned pianist Lucy Ishkhanian, playwright Hrant Markarian, Maestro Arsen Sayan, and community benefactor Dr. Hrant Semerjian.
In his remarks, Misserlian praised Hamazkayin’s international educational efforts, noting that Armenian schools are the cornerstone of communities worldwide and the need to establish a "jemaran" in the United States.
In addition to the medal and commendation ceremony, the 80th anniversary program included remarks by Amb. Markarian, Parliamentarian Galstyan, Archbishop Choloyan and musical presentation by Vivian Chakarian. The mistress of ceremonies for the evening was Hamazkayin Greater Washington DC board member Irene Abrahamian.
Parliamentarian Galstyan, who also serves as president of the Hamazkayin Foundation in Armenia, spoke eloquently about the achievemen’s of the venerable community organization both in the Diaspora and, over the past two decades, in Armenia, highlighting the group’s role in bridging Armenian cultural and educational efforts around world.
The program was part of a series of events cosponsored by the Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern United States, organized in honor of Hamazkayin’s 80th anniversary, appropriately held during October as part of Armenian cultural month.
Expanded coverage of the Washington DC event and Hamazkayin’s Eastern U.S. tour to be provided in the upcoming weeks.
For more information, visit: www.hamazkayin.com
