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Lowell Sun, MA
Aug 10 2012
Keeping Armenian heritage alive in Lowell
By Lyle Moran
LOWELL -- Tom Vartabedian, 71, settled in Haverhill nearly 50 years
ago, but most of his friends in the Armenian community lived in Lowell
at the time, so Vartabedian decided to join the Lowell Armenian
Federation.
He has been a stalwart of the Mill City group, promoting Armenian
heritage and educating the community about Armenian history since
then.
In recent months, Vartabedian has been working with other Armenians in
the Merrimack Valley to make the vision of a monument outside Lowell
City Hall memorializing the Armenian genocide, which resulted in 1.5
million deaths at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, a reality.
The Sun recently caught up with the chairman of the federation to
learn more about Lowell's Armenian community and the planned genocide
monument, including what the different elements of it will symbolize
and where it will be constructed.
Q: What is the history of the Armenian community in Lowell?
A: We had a big Armenian settlement in Lowell several years before,
and after the Armenian genocide from 1915 to 1923. Lowell was one of
the cities that really opened their gates to these refugees and
immigrants. People settled here in droves because there was work.
These immigrants, mostly females, worked in the mills. They worked
their fingers to the bone so they could raise their families and sent
their children to school to receive an education they never received
themselves.
Q: How big is the community?
A: There are anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 Armenians still in Lowell.
It is the largest Armenian community in the Merrimack Valley and
Lowell will be the first to have such a prominent memorial outside a
municipal building.
Q: Will the planned monument pay tribute to Lowell's Armenian community?
A: The theme is a mother's hands. It shows two hands in a weaving pose
over a cross. The significance is that Armenians are very indebted to
Lowell for having the opportunity to work in the mills in Lowell as
weavers, loomers and in other positions. Lowell was a place they could
come and live freely.
Q: Why is the symbol of the cross so important to Armenians?
A: One of our proudest accomplishments as Armenians is that Armenia
was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state
religion. That happened in 301 A.D. We are very proud of our religious
ancestry, and 90 percent of the 8 million Armenians across the world
are apostolic Christians.
Q: How does the Armenian community throughout the Merrimack Valley
feel about plans for the monument?
A: We have inculcated the Armenian community throughout the Merrimack
Valley to take part in this project. I like the fact that the
Armenians are becoming unified and bonding over this monument. Every
one is putting their distinctions aside. It has magnetic appeal.
Q: Who else has helped make sure the project becomes a reality?
A: We approached Mayor Jim Milinazzo with the idea when he was still
mayor and he immediately put the sail to the wind and went with it. He
suggested we get the land next to the flagpole used for flag-raising
ceremonies for the monument and he facilitated making that happen.
Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, the artist designing the monument, also
deserves a lot of credit. He is a very prominent artist in the
Armenian community.
Q: Where will the memorial be constructed?
A: In Armenia, there is a tufa stone used to build monuments so we are
thinking of having it made over there. The thought behind it is we
could give our business to Armenia, a country that could really use an
economic boost. Also, if you want authenticity, you might as well go
to the source.
Q: Do you hope the monument will help lead to broader recognition of
the genocide?
A: There are at least 21 countries in the world that recognize the
Armenian genocide, but the U.S. does not. Turkey is a valuable ally of
the U.S. because of their air bases and oil fields. By reaching the
towns and the cities, perhaps eventually the legislators will take
notice and consider action to recognize what happened almost 100 years
ago.
Q: When will the memorial be complete?
A: The plan is to have the monument in place by the end of next year
and have a nice dedication. Having it up by next year will ensure it
will be there for the flag-raising ceremony in April 2015 to recognize
the 100th observance of the genocide.
Q: How can people help make sure it becomes a reality?
A: The estimated cost is about $35,000 and we have launched a
fundraising campaign so we can pay to have the 6-foot-tall monument
built.
Anyone who wants to contribute should contact the chairman of the
committee working on the project, Armen Jeknavorian, who lives at 15
Summit Ave., in Chelmsford.
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_21281349/keeping-armenian-heritage-alive-lowell
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Aug 10 2012
Keeping Armenian heritage alive in Lowell
By Lyle Moran
LOWELL -- Tom Vartabedian, 71, settled in Haverhill nearly 50 years
ago, but most of his friends in the Armenian community lived in Lowell
at the time, so Vartabedian decided to join the Lowell Armenian
Federation.
He has been a stalwart of the Mill City group, promoting Armenian
heritage and educating the community about Armenian history since
then.
In recent months, Vartabedian has been working with other Armenians in
the Merrimack Valley to make the vision of a monument outside Lowell
City Hall memorializing the Armenian genocide, which resulted in 1.5
million deaths at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, a reality.
The Sun recently caught up with the chairman of the federation to
learn more about Lowell's Armenian community and the planned genocide
monument, including what the different elements of it will symbolize
and where it will be constructed.
Q: What is the history of the Armenian community in Lowell?
A: We had a big Armenian settlement in Lowell several years before,
and after the Armenian genocide from 1915 to 1923. Lowell was one of
the cities that really opened their gates to these refugees and
immigrants. People settled here in droves because there was work.
These immigrants, mostly females, worked in the mills. They worked
their fingers to the bone so they could raise their families and sent
their children to school to receive an education they never received
themselves.
Q: How big is the community?
A: There are anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 Armenians still in Lowell.
It is the largest Armenian community in the Merrimack Valley and
Lowell will be the first to have such a prominent memorial outside a
municipal building.
Q: Will the planned monument pay tribute to Lowell's Armenian community?
A: The theme is a mother's hands. It shows two hands in a weaving pose
over a cross. The significance is that Armenians are very indebted to
Lowell for having the opportunity to work in the mills in Lowell as
weavers, loomers and in other positions. Lowell was a place they could
come and live freely.
Q: Why is the symbol of the cross so important to Armenians?
A: One of our proudest accomplishments as Armenians is that Armenia
was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state
religion. That happened in 301 A.D. We are very proud of our religious
ancestry, and 90 percent of the 8 million Armenians across the world
are apostolic Christians.
Q: How does the Armenian community throughout the Merrimack Valley
feel about plans for the monument?
A: We have inculcated the Armenian community throughout the Merrimack
Valley to take part in this project. I like the fact that the
Armenians are becoming unified and bonding over this monument. Every
one is putting their distinctions aside. It has magnetic appeal.
Q: Who else has helped make sure the project becomes a reality?
A: We approached Mayor Jim Milinazzo with the idea when he was still
mayor and he immediately put the sail to the wind and went with it. He
suggested we get the land next to the flagpole used for flag-raising
ceremonies for the monument and he facilitated making that happen.
Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, the artist designing the monument, also
deserves a lot of credit. He is a very prominent artist in the
Armenian community.
Q: Where will the memorial be constructed?
A: In Armenia, there is a tufa stone used to build monuments so we are
thinking of having it made over there. The thought behind it is we
could give our business to Armenia, a country that could really use an
economic boost. Also, if you want authenticity, you might as well go
to the source.
Q: Do you hope the monument will help lead to broader recognition of
the genocide?
A: There are at least 21 countries in the world that recognize the
Armenian genocide, but the U.S. does not. Turkey is a valuable ally of
the U.S. because of their air bases and oil fields. By reaching the
towns and the cities, perhaps eventually the legislators will take
notice and consider action to recognize what happened almost 100 years
ago.
Q: When will the memorial be complete?
A: The plan is to have the monument in place by the end of next year
and have a nice dedication. Having it up by next year will ensure it
will be there for the flag-raising ceremony in April 2015 to recognize
the 100th observance of the genocide.
Q: How can people help make sure it becomes a reality?
A: The estimated cost is about $35,000 and we have launched a
fundraising campaign so we can pay to have the 6-foot-tall monument
built.
Anyone who wants to contribute should contact the chairman of the
committee working on the project, Armen Jeknavorian, who lives at 15
Summit Ave., in Chelmsford.
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_21281349/keeping-armenian-heritage-alive-lowell
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress