PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Under a bright sunny sky, the town of North Providence, the first in the state to host a flag-raising ceremony for the genocide, continued on April 26 its tradition at the Centerdale Town Hall.
Mayor Charles Lombardi served as the host. Messages were given by Governor Lincoln Chafee, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, and Treasurer Gina Raimondo.
All three Armenian churches were represented by their clergy, Arch Priest Gomidas Baghsarian (Blessing) of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Der Hayr Shnork Souin (Message) of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, and Rev. Hagop Manjelikian (Closing Prayer) of the Armenian Evangelical Church.
Others present included State Senator Frank Ciccone, State Rep. Katherine Kazarian, NP Councilwoman Alice Brady, NP Councilman Dino Autiello, former State Senator and State Rep. Aram Garabedian, former Providence City Administrator Robert Harootunian, former Mayor of North Providence and current Chief of Staff Richard Fossa, many prior recipients of the ANC citation from the town, and Arthur “Archie” Markarian, this year’s honored guest.
Steve Elmasian of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Rhode Island served as the emcee and gave a message from the committee. Special mention was made of those men and women who serve and protect us from harm, including many of our own. Recognized were Federal Special Agent Jason Simonian, State Police Major David Tikoian (represented by his parents, as he was on assignment), and North Providence Police Officer Mark Norigian.
Markarian and his wife Catherine, a former recipient of the citation from the town, are longtime residents and have raised their family in the town. Markarian attended the University or Rhode Island, where he majored in physical education and was a member of the baseball team. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years and has worked at the Fogarty Center in North Providence with adults with developmental disabilities for 30 years. He has coached youth football for the North Providence Jets program and is a former trustee at Sts. Vartanantz Church. He and his wife have four children and seven grandchildren.
Markarian, like all those who have received this award before him, has brought honor and pride to the Armenian-American community for his involvement in the betterment of society.
Guest Contributor
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I am glad to see that the tragic events of the elimination of so many Armenians has been recognized and remembered. Nothing can take the place os those lost in the horror of the event. All we can do is remember those who suffered and strive to make sure that a horror does not repeat itself.