On the evening of Sunday, October 25, the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region held their annual gala banquet at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, with the participation of over 1,400 guests, including public officials, community leaders, members of sister organizations, sponsors, and friends. Each year the organization honors individuals and organizations for their service to the advancement of our cause. This year’s honorees were: Walter Karabian, Attorney (Legacy Award), Geoffrey Robertson, QC, & Amal Clooney, Attorney (Advocates for Justice Award), Eric Boghosian, Actor/Author (Arts & Letters Award), and Armenian Youth Federation Western Region (Vahan Cardashian Award).
The Prelate attended and delivered the invocation, in which he highlighted the remarkable unity and strength of our community in this year of the Armenian Genocide centennial as we rallied together to honor the memory of our holy martyrs and intensify our call for justice, stating “We made great strides in our cause, locally, nationally, and internationally, with the ANCA at the forefront of our efforts.” Thus, he commended the hard work and dedication of the ANCA-WR Board members, staff, and volunteers, and beseeched the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to impel us all to continue our righteous quest for recognition and justice with renewed vitality and unwavering resolve.
His Eminence also blessed the evening’s honorees, referring to them as a remarkable group of individuals who share the ideals and vision of the ANCA and who in their own distinct capacities have worked to uphold the values of truth, justice, and human rights, and wished them continued successes in their endeavors. In conclusion, the Prelate conveyed his blessings to the guests, the public officials, community leaders, sponsors, and friends, whose collective support and encouragement has been vital to our successes, he said.