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Rug Made By Armenian Orphans To Go On Display At White House

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  • Rug Made By Armenian Orphans To Go On Display At White House

    RUG MADE BY ARMENIAN ORPHANS TO GO ON DISPLAY AT WHITE HOUSE

    Glendale News Press, CA
    April 30 2014

    April 30, 2014 | 9:07 a.m.

    The White House has agreed to exhibit a rug made by Armenian orphans
    in the near future, likely this fall, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank)
    said on Wednesday.

    The rug, which was woven by orphans of the Armenian Genocide in 1920,
    was presented to President Calvin Coolidge in 1925 as a symbol of
    gratitude for American aid and generosity for U.S. assistance during
    the genocide.

    Measuring 11 feet, 7 inches by 18 feet, 5 inches, the Armenian Orphan
    rug has more than 4,000,000 hand-tied knots and took the Armenian
    girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East Relief Society 10
    months to weave.

    At the time, President Coolidge noted that, "The rug has a place of
    honor in the White House where it will be a daily symbol of goodwill
    on earth."

    The rug - which has been in storage at the White House for decades -
    was supposed to be released for exhibition in a Smithsonian event
    for the launch of Hagop Martin Deranian's new book "President Calvin
    Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug."

    Unfortunately, the rug was not able to be displayed at that time.

    "Since first raising this issue with the administration, I have worked
    diligently with the White House to find a way for the Ghazir rug to be
    sensitively and appropriately displayed," said Schiff in a statement.

    "Today, I'm pleased to be able to say that planning is underway
    for the Armenian Orphan Rug to be displayed as early as this fall,"
    he added. "I have worked out with the White House that the display
    will take place in a venue that is open to the general public, and
    I appreciate their willingness to place this significant artifact on
    display for all to see."

    Schiff and Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) sent a letter, along with 31
    other Congressional members, to President Obama last year urging the
    administration to allow exhibition of the rug.

    "The Armenian Orphan Rug is a piece of American history and it belongs
    to the American people," the letter stated. "For over a decade,
    Armenian-American organizations have sought the public display of
    the rug and have requested the White House and the State Department
    grant their request on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, Armenian
    Americans have yet to have their requests granted.We urge you to
    release this American treasure for exhibition."

    -- Mark Kellam, [email protected]

    http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-me-armenian-orphan-rug-to-go-display-at-white-house-20140430,0,395109.story

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