The Future is Bright

Mayr Hayasdan is a symbol of pride towering over the city of Yerevan. The tanks and military planes, as well as the pictures of war heroes in the museum, remind Armenians that we have a reason to be proud of our men and women who have given their lives to protect our homeland.  After a tour by a very enthusiastic tour guide, we headed to Dzidzernagapert. It’s very difficult to describe the contrasting emotions I had at these monuments. The feeling of pride turned to sadness as I read the names of cities like Adana and Kharpert which are no longer populated by Armenians. We sat around the flame and had a discussion. As we shared stories, thoughts, and opinions about the Genocide and what it means to us as Armenians in the Diaspora, that feeling of pride came back. I felt proud again because I looked around the group and saw 20 other individuals just like me who are interested in learning about our past in order to help shape the future. Over the next six weeks, we’ll be doing just that. We hope to impact the lives of all the kids that will show up to the jambar. I, in turn, know that they will impact my life even more. There is no doubt that us Armenians have a tragic past, but we know that the future is bright.

– Shaunt Kevork