Washington, DC — As Armenian Americans commemorated the Armenian Genocide in communities nationwide, ANCA Eastern Region Board members and top regional activists brought the message of genocide affirmation and justice to the nation’s capitol and legislators representing the 31 states that make up the eastern region of the U.S., the ANCA Eastern Region reported.

“Our day on the Hill was especially fruitful because meeting with our respective Senators and Representatives was a precursor to our interaction with them at the Genocide commemoration later that night. One-on-one meetings with constituents really hammer home what the ANCA does, and we strive to foster both new and old relationships with our friends in Congress through these visits,” said Michelle Hagopian, ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director.

On April 24th, ANCA Eastern Region Board Chairwoman Nora Kzirian, Board member Tamar Kanarian, and Hagopian scheduled back to back meetings all day on Capitol Hill before attending the annual Capitol Hill observance of the Armenian Genocide with Members of Congress and the Greater Washington Armenian community in the Hart Senate Office Building that evening.

They were accompanied by ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, as well as constituents from throughout the East coast, including ANCA Tennessee’s Bearj Barsoumian and Jocelyn Micolucci of Pennsylvania.

The group also attended the opening prayer of the April 24th session of the U.S. House, led by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern U.S. Before and after the session, Archbishop Choloyan also attended meetings with several Congressmen and women, accompanied by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian.

Pictures from the April 24th Advocacy Day are posted on the ANCA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151469655141859.1073741835.16968936858&type=1

Photo Captions:

Top: Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ-8) with (left to right) ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Tamar Kanarian, ANCA Eastern Region Board Chairwoman Nora Kzirian, ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, and ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian.

Middle: Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-3) with (left to right) Chattanooga resident Elaine Mckeehan, ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Michelle Hagopian, and ANCA of Tennessee’s Bearj Barsoumian.

Bottom: Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA-8) with Pennsylvania resident Jocelyn Micolucci and ANCA Eastern Region Board Chairwoman Nora Kzirian.