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AAA: Assembly To Display Armenian Orphan Sister Rug

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  • AAA: Assembly To Display Armenian Orphan Sister Rug

    ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
    PRESS RELEASE
    Date: December 2, 2013

    Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
    Telephone: (202) 393-3434
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: www.aaainc.org


    ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA TO DISPLAY ARMENIAN ORPHAN SISTER RUG IN BOSTON


    WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) will
    display the `Armenian Orphan Sister Rug' at the Assembly's annual holiday
    reception and briefing in Boston, Massachusetts later this week. Dr. H.
    Martin Deranian, author of `President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian
    Orphan Rug' will be the special guest, where he will talk about the Ghazir
    rug, also known as the Armenian Orphan Rug, the Sister Rug and the unique
    history surrounding their fate. In addition, the Assembly is delighted to
    feature remarks by Shant Mardirossian, Chairman of the Board of Directors
    of the Near East Foundation.

    The Armenian Assembly's Annual Boston Holiday Reception & Briefing will be
    held at the Armenian Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA,
    on Thursday, December 5 at 6:30 PM.

    A part of Dr. Martin Deranian's private collection, the Armenian Orphan
    Sister Rug was woven by the same orphans at the Ghazir orphanage. According
    to Dr. Deranian, the carpet dates from the 1920's and is 3' 5' x 5' 8'. At
    one end, the carpet is woven with beautiful lettering that reads `To Mrs.
    D.W. Williams, an expression of appreciation Near East Orphanage Ghazir,
    Syria.'

    `The Ghazir Rug was presented to President Coolidge and to the American
    people as an expression of love and goodwill for America's compassionate
    and selfless role in preserving the lives of tens of thousands or orphans
    of the Armenian Genocide through the support of Near East Relief,' Dr.
    Deranian told the Assembly. `The rug is also a memorial to the
    orphan-weavers who wove into its warp and weft a permanent remembrance of
    Armenia's darkest years, 1915-1923. It is my hope that the rug will be
    placed on public view,' stated Deranian.

    As the Assembly previously reported, the Smithsonian Institution in
    Washington, D.C. was planning a December exhibition of this historic
    treasure symbolizing the proud chapter in America's history. The White
    House issued a statement saying that, "The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the
    close relationship between the peoples of Armenia and the United States. We
    regret that it is not possible to loan it out at this time."

    In 1925, Dr. John H. Finley, editor-in-chief of the New York Times and
    vice-chairman of the congressionally chartered Near East Relief
    organization (today called the Near East Foundation) presented a rug made
    by orphans of the Armenian Genocide to then President Calvin Coolidge. The
    rug was made in appreciation of America's generosity in aiding the
    survivors of the first genocide of the 20th Century.

    Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
    Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
    awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3)
    tax-exempt membership organization.

    ###

    NR# 2013-025

    Photo Caption: Dr. H. Martin Deranian holding the Armenian Orphan Sister
    Rug, Worcester Evening Gazette, April 24, 1985

    Available online at: http://bit.ly/18WcxKA

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