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PRESS RELEASE
Friday, July 24, 2009
AGBU Antranik Scout Camp in Armenia Welcomes 300 Youths from Five
Countries for a Summer of Exploration
The Armenian General Benevolent Union’s (AGBU) Antranik Scout Camp,
located near Lermontovo village in the Lori region of Armenia, opened
its doors for the second consecutive year on July 15, 2009. This year,
Antranik Camp will host 300 scouts from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and
the United States. AGBU’s Yerevan-based scout troop, the first-ever such
group in Armenia established last year, will also participate in the
summer festivities.
The July 15 opening ceremony started with the prayer of the Father
Sassoun Zumrookhdian, Vicar-General of Daoush region, who also delivered
a short requiem ceremony for the victims of the Caspian Airlines flight
between Tehran and Yerevan which crashed that same day, killing 169
passengers and crew members. Among the plane crash victims were two
sisters, Shogher and Nairi Stepanian, who were scouts in the AGBU Tehran
chapter. The ceremony, which included the scout oath and a flag-raising
ceremony, was attended by a number of Lori regional authorities,
clergymen from the local Gugarats Diocese, AGBU Armenian Representation
members, and other guests from Yerevan.
In addition to on-site camp activities and educational talks, AGBU
scouts will participate in a community service project and embark on day
trips to historic monuments and landmarks around the country, including
a visit to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
The AGBU Antranik Scout Camp is supervised by Kevork Santourian,
executive secretary of the AGBU Armenian Youth Association (AYA)
Lebanon.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually serving some
400,000 Armenians around the world.