On Sun., Oct. 18, as revolutionary songs played in the background, the Providence community filed into Aramian Hall at Sts. Vartanantz Church to celebrate ARF Day, hosted by the Providence “Kristapor” Gomideh.
The program featured videos that commemorated past heroes and triumphs, as well as the ARF’s role today and how it will lead our communities into the future.
After a welcoming statement by Gomideh chairman John Mkrtschjan, guests sat down to enjoy a meal as videos of Kristapor, Rosdom, and Zavarian, the liberation of Shushi, and various other clips played in the background. A while later, videos of the recent protests against the Turkey-Armenia protocols from around the world were shown, along with explanations of the repercussions of the agreement and of what we can do locally to make sure our message is heard.
Unger Viken Hovsepian from the ARF Bureau then addressed the hall via video conference. He greeted the Providence community and discussed the protocols extensively in conjunction with the steps the ARF will take to ensure they do not become binding. A question and answer period with Hovsepian followed, and lasted about one hour. He then directed his attention to the AYF youth present at the event and advised them on the importance of their role. They must lead the Armenian community into the future and believe in themselves, he said, regardless of any obstacles that may hinder them.
The Providence “Kristapor” Gomideh extends its appreciation to the Providence community for their continued support and their efforts for the Armenian cause. The Gomideh also thanks Unger Jirayr Beugekian for his technical assistance in setting up the video conference and audio systems, and to Ralph Rafaelian for his generous donation that helped defray the cost of renting buses to New York, for the Sept. 19 demonstration in front of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations. We look forward to the coming year and to working side by side with the Providence community at large.
Upcoming events hosted by the Gomideh include a wine-tasting event on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Aramian Hall, as well as the annual New Year’s Eve event at the West Valley Inn. For more information, email Kristapor.Gomideh@gmail.com.
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