Fresno’s ARS Mayr Chapter Celebrates 100th Anniversary

September 22, 2015

Early photo of members of the ARS Mayr Chapter, at the time called the Fresno Red Cross of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. (Photo taken from the 10th anniversary issue of Asbarez in 1918).
Rebecca Berberian of the ARS of Western USA Regional Executive Chairperson, Rosie Bedrosian of the ARS Central Executive Board, and Pat Sevoian of the ARS Mayr Chapter Executive Chairperson lighting the centennial candle.
Fresno’s Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenian, Berj K. Apkarian, presenting a proclamation to Pat Sevoian, Chairperson of the ARS Mayr Chapter Executive.
Members of the ARS Mayr Chapter.

BY RANDY BALOIAN

FRESNO””Amid the personal and collective tragedies caused by the Armenian Genocide, the year 1915 did bring one shining and enduring development to the Fresno community””namely, the founding of the local division of the Armenian Red Cross or what is known today as the Mayr Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society.  On Sunday, September 13, over 200 community members gathered at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church to celebrate the chapter’s founding and its contributions to the Central Valley.

Chairperson Pat Sevoian welcomed the audience, expressing her appreciation for their support.  After national anthems sung by Hygo Ohannessian and the invocation by Fr. Vahan Gosdanian, Pastor of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church, she turned the podium to the afternoon’s emcee, Hon. Houry Sanderson, Justice of the Fresno County Superior Court.  In her remarks, Sanderson recalled that one of the Mayr Chapter’s first endeavors occurred in November 1915 when 61 Armenian and 28 American women wearing the Red Cross emblem collected over $1,200 (nearly $28,000 by current valuation) to assist survivors of the Genocide.  She thanked the group’s 100th anniversary banquet committee for making the event possible.

Rosie Bedrossian of the ARS Central Executive Board and Fresno’s Sophia Chapter highlighted the history and achievements of the organization in general, including its most recent efforts to aid refugees of the Syrian crisis. Bedrossian was certain that the Mayr Chapter “will always be receptive to the calls of the growing changes and diversity of the vital needs of the Fresno Armenian community”

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