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Commemorative Activities in the RI
Armenian community
 It may have been 93 years since the worlds of all those that
lived on the lands of their ancestors were turned upside
down, but they remain in our hearts and minds to this day.
We continue to remember our martyrs and will do so year
after year. Below is a summary of events that took place in
the Rhode Island community during the week of April 24.
Cranston flag raising
 On April 23, the council chambers were the host location for
the Cranston ANC-RI flag raising. The room was filled to
capacity and beyond. Mistress of ceremonies Stephanie
Mesrobian welcomed the members of the clergy, elected
officials, and members of the community. All three Armenian
churches were represented by their religious leaders and
included Father Gomidas Baghsarian of Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Pastor Hagop Manjelikian of the Armenian Euphrates
Evangelical Church, and Hayr Soorp Simeon Odabashian of Sts.
Sahag and Mesrob Church.
Debra Pjojian opened the event with the singing of the “Star
Spangled Banner” and “Mer Hairenik.” Later Joanne Mouradjian
sang “Hantchetsek” after reading the meaning of the moving
piece about the martyrs.
Messages were heard from Michael Napolitano, the mayor of
Cranston, the third largest city on the state, council
president Aram Garabedian and Mesrobian, whose poignant
statements throughout the event were inspiring.
Providence AYF junior Narine Hagopian read on behalf of the
youth from the city and Geoff Hajian read a poem titled
“Archie’s Hill.” He wrote the poem for his late grandfather.
Once the speaking program concluded, all those in attendance
proceeded to the front of the building where Hagopian raised
the flag under the honor guard of the Providence Homenetmen
Scouts.
North Providence flag raising
On April 24, for the ninth straight year, the ANC of RI held
a flag raising ceremony at the North Providence Town Hall.
All three Armenian churches were again represented by their
religious leaders. Elected officials present included the
host, mayor Charles Lombardi of North Providence, secretary
of state A. Ralph Mollis, general treasurer Frank Caprio,
Warwick mayor Scott Avedisian and Cranston City Council
chairman Aram Garabedian.
Stephen Elmasian gave remarks on behalf of the ANC-RI. This
year’s North Providence resident who received the citation
from Mayor Lombardi was Carol Mesrobian, who Mesrobian joins
a who’s who of Armenian-Americans who have brought honor and
pride to our name as citizens of that town and who are
active in the Armenian community.
Cianci radio show
Two of the most active and knowledgeable members of the
Providence ARF “Kristapor” Gomideh and ANC of RI, George
Aghjayan and Stephen Mesrobian, were guests of the Cianci
Talk Radio Show following the flag raising in North
Providence on April 24. Both men have served at various
levels within the organizations. The host, Vincent Cianci, a
former mayor of the City of Providence, is very much aware
of the issues regarding the genocide. He asked questions
that were answered by Aghjayan and Mesrobian with clarity
and confidence. They were on the air for about 45 minutes.
AYF candlelight vigil
Following a requiem service held at Sts. Vartanantz Church
on April 24, some of the parishioners that were present met
up with others at Gallery Z, an art studio located in the
heart of historic Federal Hill in Providence where the
Providence AYF “Varantian” Chapter had organized a
candlelight vigil. Father Gomidas Baghsarian said a short
prayer, which was followed by the “Hayr Mer,” as those
present lit candles and placed them in a box of sand outside
the premises.
Inside the building, an exhibition has been on display from
New York City artist Kevork Mourad. In the public arts
window, two organizations, the Armenian Dramatic Arts
Alliance and the Providence Chapter of the AYF were given
space by owner Berge Zobian to display posters and
information regarding the purpose of each organization and
material related to the genocide.
Flags over RI program
This year marked the third year the ANC-RI organized the
“Flags Over RI” program. Fifty-one organizations,
businesses, and individuals sponsored a flag at a city or
town hall of their choice in memory of a loved one. Each
year the program has taken place, the number of sponsors has
increased. Nearly every city and town hall in Rhode Island
as well as the State House fly the flag on April 24. Both
houses of the state legislature passed their annual
resolutions officially recognizing the genocide and the
governor of the state, Donald Carcieri, issued the
proclamation as is done every year. The two towns that don’t
fly the flag have no issue regarding the recognition of the
genocide. It’s just a matter of finding a different place
aside from their administration building to fly it because
of an ordinance currently in place.
New York demonstration
On April 26, 32 members of the Providence community boarded
a bus to New York City to join others for a demonstration
demanding justice for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
The event was organized by the Providence AYF. We are proud
to say we had one of the largest groups present. Levon
Attarian, an AYF alum and member of the Providence ARF,
spoke to the crowd that had gathered and was well received
as always. The event provided an opportunity especially for
the youth to experience firsthand the importance of
continuing our quest for genocide recognition.
Gathering at monument
On April 27, a crowd of several hundred gathered once again
to pay their respects at the Armenian Martyr’s Monument
located at the entrance of North Burial Grounds in
Providence. A requiem service was held with all three
Armenian churches present. Elected officials present and
giving remarks were U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the governor’s
director of administration Beverly Najarian, secretary of
state A. Ralph Mollis, general treasurer Frank Caprio,
attorney general Patrick Lynch, Providence mayor David
Cicilline, Warwick mayor Scott Avedisian, and Cranston City
Council chairman Aram Garabedian.
Melanie Zeitounian was the mistress of ceremonies of the
event. The monument was adorned with beautiful red and white
flowers and wreaths from many organizations within the
community.
Pauline Getzoyan and Esther Kalajian have been working hard
at getting the Genocide Curriculum Bill passed through the
local school committees and were proud to announce that a
handbook titled A Case Study of the First Genocide of the
20th Century is now complete and should be ready for all of
the state’s social studies teachers by the fall.
Robert Petrucci, a social studies teacher from East
Greenwich and last year’s winner of the first award given to
the Teacher of the Year regarding the genocide, was also
present. This year’s winner was Paula Titon from Cranston
High School West, who has been a history teacher for over 40
years.
The guest speaker of the day was Henry Theriault, professor
of philosophy at Worcester State College and co-editor of
the Journal Genocide Studies and Prevention. The Homenetmen
Scouts served as flag bearers and the Armenian Masonic
Degree Team and the Knights of Vartan served as honor
guards.
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