FRANKLIN, Mass.—The scene is a typical McDonald’s eatery in Franklin.
It’s an ordinary weeknight here with clerks filling orders and youngsters slapping their fries around while moms attempted to restore some calm.
In walked a cluster of 60 teenagers, accompanied by 20 staffers, bent on filling their stomachs after an active round of bowling.
The management didn’t know what to make of it. Not usually do 80 people walk in unannounced. But no ordinary group was this.
They came from up the street at Camp Haiastan and for them it was a night on the town early into the camping season. It looked like some high school post-prom party.
One by one, they placed their orders as all four bays tried keeping abreast. Some of these kids had voracious appetites. Two Big Macs, large fries, chicken sandwiches, shakes, pies—the works!
As the meals were being prepared and delivered, an unexpected formality took place. Suddenly, the group hovered in a circle, heads bowed, hands held, and began reciting the “Hayr Mer.” Heads turned up. Bodies turned around. All eyes were cast upon this cluster of teenagers praying in Armenian inside a fast food joint and asking God to bless this food that was being laid before them.
Those not accustomed to prayer weren’t exempt. They joined the protocol. Others who were not familiar with the words simply mimicked along.
In time, they will have memorized the words.
Even Ronald McDonald, the company mascot, was smiling at the gesture. His house with the golden arches had suddenly become a place of worship, thanks to a group of disciplined Armenian kids.
“It’s something you wouldn’t expect to see at a McDonald’s,” said Margo Dinkjian, a second-year camp director. “The kids have it ingrained in themselves that before every meal, they recite the ‘Hayr Mer,’ whether it’s in church, at a camp, or a fast food place. It’s the Armenian tradition in them that’s talking.”
And what an impression this made on the outside. The management came over and expressed his gratitude at how well disciplined these Armenian teens were, and that more their age should follow such an example.
“You don’t find enough families praying before a meal, especially inside a place like this,” he said.
Deed done, they dug into their sandwiches and happy meals, filled their stomachs to content, and off they trekked, taking a shortcut through the woods and back to Camp Haiastan from where they came.
With all the talk about assimilation and church politics, all the nonsense of youngsters being out of control, here we had a moment of unity and Christian bonding. It may not change our world, but it certainly did justice in creating a better place for our society.
One night last week, I paid the camp a visit, bent on taking photos for a webpage gallery. The group had gathered on their own at the top of the hill before dinner and out came the “Hayr Mer,” this time a vocal arrangement.
The impression they made was enough to fill Uncas Pond.
Tom Vartabedian
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It’s not what you have, but it is what you keep. You have kept the Armenin traditions! Bravo to all the camp goers and the management.
Hartsoom muh oonim: Is there room for an agnostic or atheist Armenian at Camp Hayastan? I attended one full summer as a teenager and never once then or since have I ever felt an urge to thank our FATHER (not our mother?) in heaven after a happy meal.
Ok Tom, I am giving you a hard time, cute piece I guess.
Dear Mr. Vartabedian,
We read your article and saw your photo. Happily our (2) grand daughters are in the picture. Adi and Soseh Asadoorian; Adi is a counselor and Soseh is a camper. Their mother, Dawn and our other children, Nicole and Anto were campers.
Sincerely,
Don and Carolyn Arslanian
P.S. Keep up the good work!
McDonald’s? I know it’s cheaper to feed a large group at a fast food restaurant but that’s not good food. And yes, the kids are young, but health issues associated with junk food start earlier than people think.
Hi oyveygevalt — No hard time and glad you enjoyed the piece. Agnostic and atheist Armenians are also invited to attend Camp Haiastan which holds no religious barriers. I would hope that mingling with a young Christian population and reciting the Hayr Mer before every meal might enhance their spirituality and respect toward God and His church.
I still vividly remember, both as a director many years ago, and as a camper many many years ago, the most solemn and respectful times of the camp day were the Hayr Mer before each meal and the Flag raising and lowering ceremonies ( also followed with a prayer asking for wisdom). I would expect nothing less of todays campers. It’s what we are about as a nation and it’s a big part of what the community and parents expect when they send their precious ones to Camp Haiastan. There is yet to be ANY institution or place that can so successfuly instill the Armenian spirit and also establish life long friendships. Bravo to all of the camp directors all these years who have never veered from the mission! Long live Camp Haiastan!
—“Uncle Mike” Mirakian
couple of things:
It is wonderful that the Hayr Mer is said before each meal. But we have to speak acurately about our cultural and religious traditions.
Hayr Mer is the Lords Prayer, usually said every morning and/or night.
The prayer traditionally said before each meal is Jashagetsook Khaghaghootyanuhs, which requests not for wisdom per se, but to bless the table, for the meal to be enjoyed in peace, and to express graditude to God for bestowing the meal.
Unger Mike, if youre refering to the prayer that goes “Imasdootyoon Der, door indz imasdootyoon…”, I think it would be great to reinstate that practice!
That said, its pretty cool that this happened,
One more thing, theres a Subway right next to the McDonalds. Just saying…