2008 DESIGNATED AS WILLIAM SAROYAN YEAR BY RESOLUTION OF U.S. SENATE

Noyan Tapan

Au g 27, 2008

LOS ANGELES, AUGUST 27, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. State Senator
Dave Cogdill introduced the Senate Resolution to honor Mr. Saroyan
and the many cultural contributions Armenian Americans have made
to California over the last 100 years. The resolution was passed
unanimously by both chambers of the legislature and 2008 was designated
as William Saroyan year.

"We thank Senator Cogdill for taking the initiative to honor Saroyan
who put the Central Valley and specially Fresno on the literary map
of the world", said Varoujan Der Simonian of the Armenian Technology
Group. Saroyan once said that he didn’t make Fresno famous, raisins
did. The reality is that wherever you travel in the world, be that in
Europe, Russia, Japan or the Far East, and when people find out that
you are from Fresno, they will immediately say, Ah, Saroyan! Isn’t
that where William Saroyan was from?

A photo exhibition honoring Saroyan and the cultural contributions to
California by Armenian Americans is now on display through September
24, at the State Capitol Museum in Sacramento.

On August 28th, there will be a special Centennial Celebration of
William Saroyan’s birthday at the Fresno Convention Center’s William
Saroyan Theatre. Sponsored by the Armenian Museum, the City of Fresno,
The Fresno Bee and the Saroyan Centennial Committee, the event will
feature the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, under the Artistic
Director and Conductor, Maestro Aram Gharabekian, world renowned
Matzo Soprano Edna Garabedian, and the Fresno Choral Artists. There
will be pre-concert festivities, and after concert dessert.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress