The auditorium in honor of April War hero and commander Armenak Urfanyan was opened in honor of his 30th birthday and the 28th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Army at the Defender of the Homeland Rehabilitation Center. The Prime Minister’s wife and President of the Board of Trustees of the My Step Foundation Anna Hakobyan, the parents of wounded and fallen soldiers, as well as doctors were present at the ceremony.
The auditorium was blessed by a priest. Anna Hakobyan hugged the parents of fallen soldiers, wished them a happy Army Day, and expressed her condolences.
Armenak Urfanyan’s mother, Hamest Nersisyan, came to the center with a cake in honor of his birthday. “Captain Armenak, your courage is immortal and your name is forever in our hearts” was written on the cake. Anna Hakobyan and Ms. Nersisyan cut the cake together.
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The director of the Yerevan State Medical University, Armen Muradyan, said that he honors the parents of these soldiers both as a son and a brother. “People with dignity are able to defend themselves, their children, their sisters, their wives, their work, and their right to live. Our statehood gave us this ability and its pillar is the army. Today, as I wish to support our soldiers with physical difficulties but who always remain in good spirits, I also wish to congratulate everyone on the victories of our glorious army.”
January 28th was also the second anniversary of the opening of the rehabilitation center. Armen Muradyan said, “Thousands of soldiers have already received treatment at the center. One year ago, when the Prime Minister was here and we were celebrating Robert Abajyan’s birthday, we asked for permission to name a hall after Robert Abajyan. His family came, looked at the hall, and gave us their permission. Then, we had a new challenge: we asked Armenak Urfanyan’s mother if we could name the new hall where soldiers would receive their treatment after Armenak Urfanyan in order to fill our soldiers with hope.”
A new carpet weaving project is also taking place at the center, which, according to Armen Muradyan, will unite different layers of society from the most famous Armenians to average working Armenians. In order to participate in the carpet weaving project, one must pay at least 1,000 AMD as a symbolic gesture to tie a knot in the rug. Urfanyan’s mother and other soldiers tied knots in the rug. Armen Muradyan said that he challenges Henrikh Mkhitaryan to also tie a knot in the rug.
The next hall at the Defenders of the Homeland center will be named after another April War hero, Qyaram Sloyan.
Hripsime Jebejyan
