Armenian Genocide Museum Benefits From Day of Service By Washington Organization

Washington, DC – Volunteers from across the Washington, DC area joined the Boy Scouts of America for a day of community service at the Armenian Genocide Museum of America (AGMA), Saturday, October 31, reports the Armenian Assembly of America.

Supporting the Boy Scouts of America Troop 50 from Annandale, Virginia, volunteers from Knights of Vartan – Ani Lodge, Armenian Christian Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) from St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Washington, DC, Armenian-American Action Committee (ARAMAC) DC Youth, Armenian Network of America, Sigma Chi Fraternity at George Washington University, and Armenian Assembly of America staff and friends joined in a full day of service at the future site of the museum.

“For many years virtually no attention was paid to the National Bank of Washington (NBW) building, which will house AGMA. Designated on the National Register of Historic Buildings, the site had been allowed to deteriorate,” said museum trustee and chairman of its building and operations committee Van Z. Krikorian. “Under new management, the museum’s architectural plans were given approval by the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board, and aspects of the historic building that will be renovated and those that do not require preservation were clarified.”

“When the Boy Scouts proposed a day of service at AGMA,” added AGMA Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, “we welcomed the opportunity to take another step toward ensuring the preservation of the historic aspects of the bank building by removing many of the later additions that obscured the authentic and original architecture of the interior space. With the enthusiasm the Boy Scouts generated in the community and the strong support of over 50 volunteers, we were able to implement a thorough improvement of the site. The results speak for themselves. An open interior space brightened with the filter of natural light has given everyone who participated a sense of the wonderful qualities of the exhibit spaces available in the bank building.”

As plans progress for the development of the Armenian Genocide exhibits, AGMA also anticipates opening the site to future events to provide the local community access to the historic building whose amazing architectural features are all the more visible now thanks to all the volunteers who turned out to extend their support to help preserve the building and prepare the way for the future museum.

The Armenian Genocide Museum of America is an outgrowth of the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Institute (ANI), catalyzed by the initial pledge of Anoush Mathevosian toward building such a museum in Washington, DC.

Source: ArmeniaNow -Original Article

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