Author: Alex Alahverdian

ANCA EASTERN REGION AND ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL HOST REP. TULSI GABBARD

Rep. Gabbard (Hawaii-2) Meets with the Armenian-American Community ahead of  her upcoming Congressional visit to Armenia

 ANCA members Audrey Mardoian and Dr. Artur  Martirosyan, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, who offered a copy of Hrair Hawk Khatcherian’s “Yergir 2” to the Congresswoman

On Sunday, September 10, 2017, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) advocates and Armenian-American community members from the New York metropolitan area gathered at the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral for a meet-and-greet event with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii-2), ahead of her upcoming Congressional trip to Armenia. Rep. Gabbard—a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee—has challenged the status quo withrespect to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and has also recentlyshown great interest towards the Armenian-American policy priorities.

Tulsi Gabbard grew up in Hawaii and was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002 when she was just 21 years old, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. A year later, she joined the Hawai’i Army National Guard to serve Hawaii and our country. In 2004, Gabbard volunteered to deploy with her fellow soldiers, becoming the first state official to voluntarily step down from public office to serve in a war zone. She served two tours of duty in the Middle East, and she continues her service as a Major in the Army National Guard. In between her two tours, Rep. Gabbard served in the U.S. Senate as a legislative aide to Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), where she advised him on energy independence, homeland security, the environment, and veteran issues. While working for Senator Akaka in 2007, she graduated from the Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy, where she was the first woman to finish as distinguished honor graduate in the Academy’s 50-year history. Gabbard was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 29th Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard—this time to serve as the Military Police Platoon Leader.

In 2010, Tulsi Gabbard was elected to the Honolulu City Council, serving as Chair of the Safety, Economic Development, and Government Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget Committee. She was elected in 2012 to the United States House of Representatives, serving Hawaii’s 2nd District. She is one of the first two female combat veterans to ever serve in the U.S. Congress, and its first Hindu member. Now in her third term in Congress, Gabbard serves on both the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, offered opening remarks and a prayer in memory of all the innocent victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In her remarks and subsequent Q&A session, Rep. Gabbard touched upon the current state and future prospects of U.S.-Armenia strategic partnership, the ongoing security challenges in Armenia and Artsakh, Turkish government’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the Turkish blockade against Armenia. She shared news of her upcoming Congressional delegation trip that she sees as an opportunity to learn more about Armenia, its history and culture, current regional geopolitical challenges, etc.

Rep. Gabbard also shared her work in fighting for the protection of Christians, Yezidis, and other minorities in the Middle East, as well as the re-affirmation and international condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. “The Armenian National Committee of America has done great work in helping to shed light on the need for the United States and the global community to recognize the genocide committed against the Armenian people. I’m grateful to hear from Armenians both at home and abroad about their interests and concerns, and how best we can work together,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.

The event concluded with closing remarks offered by Artur Martirosyan, ANCA ER Representative and member of the Cathedral’s Board of Trustees,  who wished the Congresswoman safe and enjoyable travels to Armenia with the hope that she will convey back her impressions regarding regarding her trip.