BOSTON and BERD, Armenia — On January 28, Armenia’s Army Day holiday, the Armenian American Veterans of Greater Boston (formerly AMVETS POST 41 of Watertown, MA), hosted a holiday meal for 350 frontline troops serving on Armenia’s Northeastern international border with Azerbaijan.
This meal was organized by Rev. Aram Mirzoyan, pastor of the Shamshadeen frontier villages for a second year in a row, coordinated by the Fund for Armenian Relief field office in Berd, the center of the 16 frontier village cluster called Shamshadeen. While the Armenian-American veterans funded the meal, all the arrangements, including the procurement of a huge 250-kilogram cow, its slaughtering, cooking, and delivery to the frontline troops were organized by Mirzoyan. A delicious beef barbecue was prepared along with all the fixings, including soft drinks, and desserts. As in the past year the regional base commander of the Armed forces expressed his gratitude to the Armenian American Veterans for their thoughtfulness, which he said warmed the hearts and souls of his troops in realizing that Armenians living so far away from the conflict care about them.
This program was initiated by George Haroutunian, commander of the Veterans group, and Jack Medzorian, trustee and a founder of the veterans’ organization. Both are also past commanders of the Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge#1 of Boston. They commented, “we do not forget the sacrifice our young men are making in protecting the frontiers of our fledgling nation and are proud to honor them on their annual Army day holiday.”
- Jack Medzorian