Armenian Assembly Gathers at Armenian Heritage Park for Celebration of Service Kickoff

Jim Kalustian and Nicole Babikian Hajjar sharing remarks

at Armenian Heritage Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, MA - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) opened its Celebration of Service weekend in Boston on Friday, June 5, with a program at the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway – a landmark dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide, the contributions of Armenian Americans to Boston and the nation, and the diversity and resilience of all immigrant communities that have found a home in Massachusetts. Armenian Heritage Park holds the distinction of being the only federally recognized land in the United States that acknowledges the Armenian Genocide.

The program was led by the Armenian Heritage Foundation, of which the Armenian Assembly of America serves as a foundation board member. The Assembly extends special thanks to Barbara Tellalian, Jim Kalustian, Nicole Babikian Hajjar, and Carol Ishkhanian for their contributions to the park and its mission.

Jim Kalustian, a longtime Trustee Member and Chair of the Armenian Heritage Foundation, opened the program by reflecting on the park’s significance as a monument to immigrant history and a symbol of what the Armenian American community in New England has achieved through unity. He underscored that the community's greatest achievement was not the park itself, but what the park represents: the power of a unified community speaking with one collective voice.

"Our greatest achievement is not just this wondrous park and what it stands for — it is the fact that we achieved all of this with one singular, unified voice and common purpose. Short of that, our efforts would have been in vain," said Kalustian.

Armenian Heritage Park volunteers shared information about the park's year-round programming, all inspired by the park's design and geometric features, which tell the story of the immigrant experience.

Programs offered in collaboration with civic, arts, educational, and cultural organizations include an annual Day of Remembrance on or around April 24; a Welcome Reception for New Citizens following their Naturalization Ceremony at Faneuil Hall; monthly cross-cultural celebrations highlighting the diverse communities of Greater Boston; and more.

Nicole Babikian Hajjar, Assembly Member and Celebration of Service Committee member (and along with her husband Jean-Jacques Hajjar, Assembly Intern Parents), offered a deeply personal account of her experience as a Lebanese Armenian American, reflecting on her upbringing in war-torn Beirut and the immigrant journey that brought her to Boston in 1995. She spoke of finding her calling in community service and the values of hard work, compassion, and resilience instilled in her by her father, a prominent civic and political leader in Lebanon.

"I really lived immigration as yet another war, because it also brought its share of loss, of trauma, of disruption. But I learned that if you embrace the challenge and welcome the opportunities that come your way, you end up winning this war — and you end up richer for it," said Hajjar.

The program concluded with guests taking part in the park's Labyrinth walk — a circular, winding path paved with grass and inlaid with stone, celebrating life's journey, with Art, Service, Science, and Commerce etched around its circumference in tribute to the contributions of immigrant communities to American life and culture.

The gathering at Armenian Heritage Park set the tone for a weekend of reflection and celebration, as guests looked ahead to honoring six individuals whose combined service has defined the Armenian Assembly of America for a generation.

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Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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NR # 2026-20