41st Annual Navasartian Games & Festival Come to a Close

VAN NUYS””Homenetmen’s 41st Annual Navasartian Games came to a grand end on Sunday, July 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Birmingham High School with large community-wide support.

Led by chapter scoutmasters, Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Honorary Presidents Mr. & Mrs. Katcho and Araxie Achadjian, Exemplary Homenetmen Member Krikor Megerian and his wife, Armineh, and Regional Executive Chairperson Manuel Marselian took their seats on the honorary platform at the start of the closing ceremony. Official guests at the event included Counsellor of the Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles Razmik Stepanyan; Homenetmen Central Executive Members Viggen Davidian and Antranig Baharian; ARF Western US Central Committee chairman Daron Der Khachadourian; ARS Regional Executive Vice-Chairperson Maro Papazian; Glendale City Clerk and candidate for the California State Assembly, Ardashes Kassakhian; and Burbank Police Lieutenant Eric Deroian. Former honorary presidents, exemplary members, representatives of various organizations, members, athletes, and supporters also filled the stands.

The American and Armenian flags were presented onto the field before the thousands of spectatators while the Masters of Ceremony Souzy Ohanian (Armenian) and Arman Kilijian (English) invited attendees to observe a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers of the recent Four-Day War in Artsakh.

After receiving consent from Chairperson Marselian to officially begin the closing ceremony, Regional Scoutmaster Sharlene Gozalian initiated the start of the flag ceremony. Homenetmen scouts marched onto the field bearing the American, Armenian, Artsakh, Australian, California, Homenetmen, and Navasartian flags, as directed by Homenetmen Sipan Chapter Scoutmaster Talar Kalstian. Thereafter, the American, Armenian and Homenetmen anthems played by the Homenetmen marching band.

Following the anthems, the Homenetmen scouting division took to the field. Upon halting before the honorary platform and spectators, they portrayed the Armenian and Artsakh flags, confirming that the organization remains faithful to the “We are Artsakh”