CRANSTON, R.I.—On Friday evening, April 15, for the third year, the Honorable Mayor Allan Fung hosted the raising of the Armenian flag at Cranston City Hall in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Rhode Island presented another empowering event respecting the memory of the martyrs.
An opening prayer was given by Pastor Hagop Manjelikian of the Armenian Euphrates Evangelical Church. Debra Pjojian touched the hearts of all present with her angelic voice singing the national anthem.
A citation declaring that April 15 will be forever known as Lillian and the late Varkis Markarian Day was presented to Markarian by Mayor Fung. Markarian is an active and passionate member of the Armenian community and the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, having served on many different committees and organizations over the years. She and her husband are great examples of the Armenian spirit. They are the children of survivors and went on to make major contributions to the Rhode Island Armenian community. Varkis Markarian served as a member and chairman of the church’s Board of Trustees and as a delegate to the National Religious Assembly representing the church. Varkis was, and Lillian remains, a huge supporter of the church and the organizations.
Dignitaries who attended and shared words of encouragement and hope were U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, House Leader Nicholas Mattiello, and former Cranston City Council Chairman Aram Garabedian. Also in attendance was Honorable Chief Judge of the Family Court Haiganush Bedrosian.
Cranston School Committee Member Andrea Iannazzi was the emcee for a packed city council chambers. Anna-Marie Danayan and Narine Taraksian, representing the Armenian youth, prepared and read speeches that were well received by the audience.
The Providence Homenetmen Chapter, with close to 40 scouts present, served as an honor guard, singing the four verses of “Mer Hairenik” along with Pjojian, as Markarian raised the flag at the conclusion of the event.
Der Hayr Gomidas Baghsarian of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church and Deacon Hagop Ghajanian of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church gave the closing prayer together.
Way to go Lillian, I am very proud to say I lived in Cranston growing up and it wonderful to see the flag at city hall!