Washington, DC - Last week, in a show of unity, and the blessings of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, the statewide Massachusetts Armenian community, the oldest in the United States, came together for the dedication of the Armenian Heritage Park in downtown Boston, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, dean of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation Representative Edward Markey, and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, all spoke eloquently about the importance of the Armenian Heritage Park. The Heritage Park nestles on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway directly across from Faneuil Hall, which is steeped in Massachusetts history as a meeting place for political activists since the American Revolution and which served as the site of the first meeting of the American humanitarian movement to help the Armenian people. As Armenian Heritage Foundation President James Kalustian explained, the Park celebrates "the human Armenian spirit of those who triumphed over tragedy." Interviewed by Chris Lovett on the Boston News Network, Kalustian discussed the history of the Armenian Genocide noting that the motivation for building the Park was "to create awareness not only of the Armenian Genocide, but also of other genocides and other human rights issues." In addition to the Massachusetts dignitaries, Armenia's Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, along with Armenian Ambassador to the United States Tatoul Markarian, also participated in the dedication. Joining them and the entire Boston area Armenian community were Assembly Board Members Carolyn Mugar, Aram Kaloosdian, Anthony Barsamian, Lu Ann Ohanian and Rachel Kaprielian, as well as Life Trustee Members Noubar and Anna Afeyan, the Atinzian family, Mrs. Michael Ohanian, Richard and Gail O'Reilly, and Mrs. Charles Talanian along with Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "This was truly an inspirational day," said Assembly Board Member Rachel Kaprielian and current Registrar for the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles. "I am proud to be a part of this important contribution to the people of the Commonwealth." The Armenian Heritage Foundation was established in 2005 with Peter Koutoujian and Rachel Kaprielian serving as Honorary Chairs, and is comprised of 38 Armenian religious, cultural, educational, and philanthropic organizations across Massachusetts. 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.

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