BOSTON – Boston marked 109 years since the Armenian Genocide began with a commemoration at the State House, where a 110-year-old survivor of the genocide was also honored.
Day of remembrance
The Armenian community recognizes April 24 as Martyrs’ Day, the day the massacre and ethnic cleansing of more than 1 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire began in 1915. To this day, Turkey continues to deny the killings as genocide, arguing there were losses on both sides. President Joe Biden became the first American president recognize the genocide.
Mary Vartanian, 110, was honored as the distinguished guest by the Massachusetts House Chambers at the memorial. Vartanian was recognized for keeping Armenian culture alive in Massachusetts.
“And considering that Mary’s strong work ethic has earned her the respect and esteem of many in her community, it is now resolved that the Massachusetts Senate and the House of Representatives hereby jointly commend Mary Vartanian for her contributions to the Armenian American community in the Commonwealth,” read State Senator Will Brownsberger (D-Suffolk and Middlesex).
Born during genocide and survived
Vartanian, who lives in Jamaica Plain, was given a special escort by Boston police to the State House. Her family says she was born during the genocide and moved to the United States in the 1970s. She attends the genocide commemoration at the State House every year, but this is the first year she has been honored. Her family said she owes her long life to a strong sense of family and culture.
The commemoration began with children from St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown singing the Armenian national anthem. State Rep. David Muradian (R-9th Worcester), one of two Armenian-Americans serving the House of Representatives, also spoke.
“I am one of two Armenians currently serving in the Massachusetts State House, an honor I and we do not take for granted,” Muradian said.
Muradian and other lawmakers wore lapel pins with forget-me-not flowers, a flower that symbolizes genocide, for the event.
