On June 28th, the Embassy of Armenia in Washington hosted a solemn ceremony to mark the Centennial Anniversary of the Republic of Armenia, under the auspices of President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and First Lady Nouneh Sarkissian, attended by US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, Adjutant General of Kansas National Guard Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the newly elected Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian of the Eastern Prelacy, the leadership of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Ramgavar Party, as well as representatives of more than a dozen Armenian-American organizations from around the United States.

The event featured an ceremony of unveiling the bust of one of the founders of the Armenian Republic and the first Armenian Ambassador to the United States - Armen Garo (Karekin Pastermadjian). The idea of paying tribute to one of the prominent politicians of the First Republic was brought about by the Embassy of Armenia to the United States and the ARF Eastern Region Central Committee. In their remarks Mr. Hagop Der Khatchadourian - Member of the ARF Bureau, and Mr. Hayg Oshagan – member of the ARF Eastern Region Central Committee, highlighted Armen Garo’s invaluable contribution to restoring the Armenian statehood and to enhancing Armenia’s international image.

During the event Ambassador Grigor Hovhannissian awarded a certificate of appreciation to the author of Armen Garo’s bust – renowned Canadian-Armenian sculptor Megerditch Tarakdjian, who is also the author of the bust of famous Canadian-Armenian portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh, inaugurated in downtown Ottawa last year. Ambassador Hovhannissian also recognized Armenian-American philanthropist and activist Mrs. Savey Tufenkian for her longstanding engagement in Armenian-American benevolence and support to Armenian diplomatic missions in the United States.

The cultural program included performances by a New-York-based young operatic bass Christopher Nazarian, and a rendition of Arno Babajanian “My Yerevan” song by 5th grade students from Brightwood Education Campus – our partners for this this year’s Embassy Adoption Programme.