Author: Hovsep Chakrian

A memorial evening dedicated to poet, educator, and scholar Jacques Hagopian will take place in Pasadena under the auspices of Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and organized by an ad hoc committee.

The program will be held on Thursday, February 6 at 7 p.m. at Pasadena’s St. Sarkis Church, located at 58 S Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107.

The evening will include a keynote speech by Kevork Bedikian and remarks by Rev. Serop Megerditchian, Mike Youssefian, and Sarkis Mahserejian.

The cultural program will feature performances by students of Vahan and Anoush Chamlian and Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian Schools, as well as by the St. Sarkis Church choir.

The community is encouraged to attend and collectively honor the memory of an exemplary servant of our Lord, nation, and heritage

GLENDALE—The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California has announced that they will be honoring former U.S. Secretary of Navy & U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul R. Ignatius at their 2nd Annual Gala. The highly anticipated event will be held on Sunday, December 8 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.

“Paul Ignatius’ rise from his hometown of Glendale to his service as U.S. Secretary of Navy is truly remarkable and his support for the Armenian American Museum project has inspired us all,” stated Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian. “We look forward to honoring Secretary Ignatius for his dedicated public service at the 2nd Annual Gala.”

Paul R. Ignatius, the son of Armenian parents who immigrated to the United States, was born in Glendale, California in 1920. Ignatius’ military career began in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served for eight years in the Administrations of President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson. He was appointed first as Assistant Secretary of the Army in 1961 and then as Undersecretary in 1964. In 1965, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics). In 1967, he was named Secretary of Navy and served in the position until 1969. In 2019, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer named in honor of the former Secretary.

Ignatius became President of the Washington Post following his government service. He later joined the Air Transport Association and served as President for 15 years until his retirement in 1986. He is also the founder of the Harbridge House, Inc., a management consulting firm based in Massachusetts.

The Armenian American Museum recently launched its Square Foot Builders program, an initiative inspired by Ignatius’ generous contribution and words of encouragement in the early stages of the developing project.

Hundreds of supporters, community leaders, and public officials are expected to attend the 2nd Annual Armenian American Museum Gala on Sunday, December 8, 2019. The signature event of the year will celebrate and support the landmark project as it approaches its historic groundbreaking year.

Additional honorees and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. The reservation deadline for sponsorships, program book ads, and tickets is November 8. For more information on the 2nd Annual Gala, visit the website or call 818.644.2073.

The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California is a developing project in Glendale, California with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. The museum will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

The governance of the museum is entrusted to ten Armenian American cultural, philanthropic, and religious non-profit institutions including the Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union Western District, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

SACRAMENTO—On Wednesday, the Glendale Community College Armenian Genocide Commemoration Bill, SB 568, authored by State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge), was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Prior to the passage of SB 568, GCC would have had to forfeit nearly $500,000 if it were to close on April 24 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Unlike the K through 12 Education Code, which gave the GUSD the ability to properly respect and close on April 24, Community Colleges had no such authority prior to today. This situation created an emotional and practical problem for many Glendale families where one child attended GCC and another attended a school which closed. It also created a significant financial difficulty for GCC in order to properly respect such an important and solemn day for many of the school families and the greater GCC community. To rectify the situation, GCC Board Members requested legislative help from Senator Portantino. As a long-time friend and supporter of the college and the Armenian American Community, Senator Portantino respectfully took up the cause. Today’s action is the final appropriate result!

“Two years ago, I was honored to have been asked by GCC Board members to help offset the cost of closing on April 24th. Today, I am very proud to have sent a bill to the Governor to help our Armenian Community, greater community, the faculty, administrators, and students of GCC solemnly and appropriately commemorate the Armenian Genocide without unnecessary financial pressure. I am grateful to Governor Newsom, who continues to support and recognize the importance of the Armenian American Community in California, for his signature, sensitivity and understanding of this situation,” commented Senator Portantino.

Senator Portantino, who has a long and positive relationship with the Armenian American and Glendale Community College community, negotiated directly with the Community College Chancellor’s Office to bring an amenable solution to this issue. The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate and the Assembly. The signing of SB 568 is the culmination of those discussions and actions.

“Glendale Community College commends Senator Portantino for his leadership and the Legislature and Governor Newsom for their support in enactment of this important law. GCC will use this legal day of remembrance, and other opportunities throughout the year, to educate our students and communities about the Armenian Genocide to assure such atrocities never happen again,” said Dr. David Viar, Superintendent/President of GCC.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Glendale Community College, I thank Senator Portantino’s tireless effort on behalf of our students. We are extremely grateful that the Senator championed this issue and enabled us to commemorate the Armenian Genocide by closing our campuses without incurring a financial penalty,” added Board of Trustees President Dr. Vahé Peroomian.

GCC President Dr. David Viar and Executive Vice President Dr. Anthony Culpepper travelled to Sacramento over the last year to offer testimony in support of SB 568. In addition to Chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Portantino also Chairs the Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia & Artsakh Trade, Art, Cultural and Economic Exchange. He recently helped facilitate the formal Memorandum of Understanding between California and the Republic of Armenia, which included the establishment of a California Trade Desk in Yerevan. He was in New York with Governor Newsom, Prime Minister Pashinyan, and High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan for the historic MOU signing event.

“It is such good karma that I was sitting in Yerevan when I received the news from the Governor’s office that SB 568 was signed. Clearly, the benefits of SB 568 go far beyond financial. When GCC closes on April 24th it educates many non-Armenians about the historical significance of April 24th and the horror of the first Genocide of the 20th Century,” concluded Senator Portantino.