On November 10, 2002, I attended a Philadelphia Armenian Veterans Reunion.   It was hosted by the Armenian Martyrs Congregational Church and St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church.   It was held at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church.   The veterans and spouses who attended numbered 300 or more, representing all of the wars in the last century and including all of the branches of military service, including our often overlooked Merchant Marines.

As Howard S. Garabedian, the Commemorations Marshal so aptly put it, it was sponsored by Evangelicals and Catholics, held in an Armenian Apostolic church and supported by the entire Philadelphia community.   As he stated:   "Where else but in the City of Brotherly Love could such a memorable event have happened?"  

The Philadelphia Armenian American Veterans Association (PAAVA) is the brainchild of Mrs. Sandra Selverian.   Her staunchest supporter is, of course, her loving husband, Steve.   And the troops that she’s mustered are made up of local men and women from all of the church communities within our Philadelphia area.

After her closing address, she was asked what it was that motivated her to take on such a
hardy project.   She responded by saying that when she was young, she knew about the blackouts, rationing, and witnessing all those who were going into the service, and thereafter some of the celebrations for some of those who were coming back.   That, outside of general information, she didn’t have a clue as to what these young men and women had to go through in the war that they had been a part of.   She further felt that because of this, there was a gnawing void in her remembrances and, such being the case, that there must also be others with the same problem.

Under these circumstances, she felt that by organizing the Philadelphia Armenian American Veterans Association and documenting the experiences of our veterans, that it would not only fill that gnawing void, but that it would also demonstrate that there are times when we must sacrifice in order to hold on to those cherished freedoms that we so oftentimes take for granted.   Furthermore, she also felt that it would instill in us, pride for being Armenian Americans.   

Charles Mardigian (St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church), Master of Ceremonies, introduced the guest speaker, Captain Dennis Ourlian, USN.   He is currently the Reactor Officer on the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower.   

Captain Ourlian gave us a whirlwind ten-minute account of how he elevated from a graduate at Penn State University to second in command of the greatest, most formidable aircraft carrier in the world.   His 24 years of service, he claimed, had transformed him from a once fantasy-minded youth to a true believer in our precious American heritage--a heritage, he related, that many of our veterans had come to realize in much less time than his years of service because of the horrendous circumstances under which they had come to realize it.   He ended his ten minute speech of how proud he was of our Armenian veterans and how honored he felt to be in such good company.

If I were to list all of the wonderful people who assisted in putting together this incredible commemorative event, it would fill a book.   Therefore, for the sake of brevity, I will forego the many details that enhanced its successful outcome.   In short, I would like to extend to all those who are a part of Sandra’s Armenian American Veterans Association Committee, my heartfelt gratitude and thanks.   For those who live in areas that do not have a veterans group but who wish to start one, feel free to contact Sandra Selverian, 1 Oak Terrace, Merchantville, New Jersey
08109.   Telephone - 1-856-665-2264.    Fax - 1-856-665-5840.

Who knows, but if we could get a few more successful veterans groups together, we sure as heck will make a nationally recognized showing when they inaugurate that new World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.

Joseph Vosbikian