BLOOD DRIVE TO HELP REMEMBER GENOCIDE
By Ani Amirkhanian
Glendale News Press, CA
April 23 2007
Armenian National Committee partners with the American Red Cross for
week of remembrance.
Glendale Unified School District Board Member Joylene Wagner lay on a
cot gripping a red ball in her hand as a phlebotomist dripped iodine
on her arm in preparation to draw blood.
On Sunday, Wagner donated blood during the Armenian National
Committee’s annual blood drive at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.
The committee organized the event with the American Red Cross in
conjunction with the city’s week of remembrance.
"I give blood periodically," Wagner said. "It’s the Armenian National
Committee’s efforts for the whole community."
Donors give one pint of blood, Elen Asatryan, executive director of
the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee, said.
The blood will be distributed to local hospitals that have patients
who require blood transfusions, she said.
"We wanted to give back to the community," Asatryan said.
It was the first time that Los Angeles resident Moon Kyin signed up
to give blood.
Kyin waited for his turn with his parents, who came to show their
support. His father, Feek, decided he would also donate his blood.
"We want to donate blood to save people’s lives," Kyin said. "Maybe
someday, we will need other people’s help."
As he lay waiting, Raffi Hamparian, chairman of the western region
of the Armenian National Committee, kept his right arm still as the
phlebotomist prepared to draw blood.
"This is the second time I’ve given at the Glendale Armenian National
Committee blood drive," Hamparian said. "Both times I’ve come knowing
this is the right thing to do."
Hamparian began squeezing the red ball with his right hand.
"It is a tribute to the martyrs of 1915," he said, of the blood
drive. "It’s part of the broader effort to mark the genocide."