Pasadena AYF Members and ANC Supporters Attend Program Highlighting
Armenian Legion Heroes
Asbarez
Jan 7th, 2010
Pasadena AYF "Nigol Touman" chapter members with representatives of
the Armenian Library and Museum of America, former Pasadena Mayor Bill
Paparian and Pasadena ANC activist Raffi Hamparian.
PASADENA, CA – A broad and diverse standing room only crowd of
Armenian Americans recently attended a program highlighting an exhibit
commissioned by the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA)
regarding the heroic service of the Armenian Legion in World War I.
The program, entitled `Forgotten Heroes – The Armenian Legion and the
Great War,’ was held at the Pasadena Central Library on Sunday,
January 3, 2010. The program was sponsored by ALMA, the Armenian
Rights Council of America and the Pasadena Armenian National Committee
and supported by the Pasadena Armenian Youth Federation `Nigol Touman’
Chapter.
Former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian served as the master of ceremonies
for the program honoring those Armenians, many from America, who
served in the Armenian Legion early in the twentieth century. Former
Pasadena Deputy City Manager Ed Aghjayan, whose father served as an
Armenian Legion member, served as the program’s keynote speaker.
Speaking on behalf of the Armenian Rights Council of America was Dr.
Raffi Balian. On behalf of the Armenian National Committee, Pasadena
Chapter, Chairmen Raffi Hamparian delivered his remarks to the present
guest and presented awards to both the Pasadena Central Library and
ALMA for their central role in bringing the `Forgotten Heroes – The
Armenian Legion and the Great War’ exhibit to the City of Pasadena.
`Our AYF chapter was proud to learn more about the heroic Armenian
Americans who served in the Armenian Legion,’ remarked Pasadena AYF
`Nigol Touman’ Executive member Berj Parseghian after the program.
`The shared history of sacrifice Armenian Legion members displayed
made a strong impact on the 20 AYF members who came to today’s
program. We are proud to have been part of this program and glad that
many of our AYF members were able to make the exhibit a teachable
moment.’ Parseghian added.
`The Pasadena ANC is proud to have supported ALMA’s exhibit
highlighting the Armenian Legion,’ stated Ishkhan Boghossian, the
Executive Director of the Pasadena Armenian National Committee. `We
salute all the community groups and members who joined with Bill
Paparian, Ed Aghjayan and the Pasadena Central Library in hosting a
truly wonderful event that drew a standing room only crowd to the
library’s Wright Auditorium,’ Boghossian added.
The Armenian Legion was created during World War I to support Allied
forces in their war against Turkey, Austria and Germany. Many Armenian
Americans, including individuals from southern California, proudly
served in the Armenian Legion. According to the ALMA exhibit, Armenian
Legion recruits from the United States were shipped from New York to
Marseille, France and then to a training ground in Monarka, Cyprus.
>From there the Armenian Legion fought in a number of decisive battles
in World War I under the command of British General Edmund Allenby.
Despite their bravery, Allied forces ultimately betrayed the Armenian
Legion by accommodating the demands of Turkish nationalists at the end
of World War I.
The ALMA exhibit on the Armenian Legion was originally produced in
2001. Due to overwhelming demand, a traveling version of the exhibit
was created and has been shown at various venues throughout the United
States. The exhibit was made possible through a generous grant from
the K. George and Carolann S. Najarian Foundation, with additional
support by the Armenian American Veterans of Milford, Massachusetts.
The Pasadena ANC advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and
political rights of the area’s Armenian American community and
promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the
grassroots and public policy levels.
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Photo Caption: Pasadena AYF `Nigol Touman’ chapter members with
representatives of the Armenian Library and Museum of America, former
Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian and Pasadena ANC activist Raffi
Hamparian.