But if it were if we're being honest, many of us wouldn't be here if it not for our grandparents hadn't been taken in by a neighbor, by friends, even strangers who risked their lives to help them escape the Armenian escape. The Armenian people survived not only because they endured, but because someone helped. The man who helped them, who gave his life. so they might have a future reminds us of a deeper truth. In a world divided by bitterness and mistrust, his selfless act is a living testament to Christ's words from the gospel according to John 15 verse 13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. That kind of selflessness, that quiet, unshakable moral courage lived on in my uncle George. He made history here in this House Chamber, becoming the only person in Massachusetts history to ever unseat a sitting speaker.
At his funeral, it was Andrew Card, the minority lead leader of the house when George was elected as speaker of the house and later chief of staff to President George W. Bush, who was asked to deliver that eulogy for my uncle right here at this very spot where I'm standing today. It was in that moment that both Republicans and Democrats rose together to honor George Cavarian, not as a politician, but as a man of principle, kindness, and service. George gave the Republican caucus a voice in the legislative process. He believed that democracy only works when everyone is heard and ideas rise above party lines and people come before politics. I ask you, is this imaginable today in our country? But some of his greatest acts of leadership happen far from the floor of this chamber. One night, George landed at Logan Airport and saw a man trying to get back to New Hampshire.
He had missed the last bus. Without hesitation, he drove him home, hours out of his way. Another time, he saw a woman and her two young children sitting on a curb in Everett right outside his favorite Dunkin Donuts on River Beach Parkway. They were cold. They were homeless and they had nowhere to go. George didn't refer them to a shelter. He brought them into his own home where they lived with him for months. When he finally found them housing, he called on his friends, the people from Everett City Hall, to give their time to paint the apartment, move them in, and furnish it all with donated items. No cameras, no press, no recognition, just heart. That was the kind of public servant he was and the kind of human being we should all strive to be. He believed in investing not only in policies but in people, in their their dignity, their growth and their future.
In memory and in the spirit of that farmer who gave his life to save his friend's children, I am proud to present two $5,000 scholarships today. I'd like Peter and Trayvon to come up here. [Applause] One scholarship today will go to Peter Kujan. See there are two of them too. A political science major at Bridgewater State University with a deep commitment to public servants civic engagement and community empowerment. A 2025 deans list honore and a 2024 Americanore member. Peter's held leadership roles both on campus and beyond, including director of public relations for the Bridgewater State University Food Pantry, and founder of the bipartisan disagreement club. I like that one. He has interned in the United States Senate, worked on a Morahi Morahily campaign, and served as a community organizing fellow in Boston. Peter has led tours at the Massachusetts State House for nearly six years and participated in the Armenian Assembly's Tenian Thomas internship advocating for Armenian issues in Washington DC.
With plans to pursue a master's in education and law school, Peter is driven to serve the country, the Commonwealth, and the Armenian community throughout through through policy and public leadership. In a moment, I'll ask him to say a few words. Our recipient from Everett High School, a city my uncle cherished and served every single day of his life is Trayvon Tree Carrington. A remarkable student with a 4.0 GPA and an inspiring record of community service. Tvon gives back through food pantries, clothing drives, citywide events, and church outreach, including the Zion's Community in Unity block party and the annual Thanksgiving dinner that serves over 900 people. During the pandemic, he launched Trees Kitchen, a local culinary business inspired by his late grandmother. Using his passion for cooking to uplift others and support his community, Trayvon was recently honored with the prestigious MAVA award presented to only 55 students out of 55,000 across Massachusetts for excellence.
[Applause] for excellence in vocational technical education and meaningful community impact. He truly embodies the values of leadership, compassion, and service. Before I turn the microphone over to these wonderful gentlemen, I'd like to recognize Trayvon's mother, Tiana Carrington, for her unwaving love and support, Dennis Lynch, the devoted principal of Ever High School, and Alfred Latanzi, a dedicated member of the Cavarian Scholarship Committee. for their steadfast commitment to nurturing and empowering the next generation. And of course, Peter's father, Peter Katujin, our man. Why don't you come up and say a few words? Good morning, everybody. I'm I'm deeply honored to have been given this award on behalf of the Cavarian family. It's a reminder of speaking Cavarian's hard work and commitment to public service. Something that I will carry forward for the rest of my life. I would like to thank the Cavarian family and the Cavarian Foundation.
Your belief in me and your support means more to me than you can know. I'll always remember and honor Speaker George Cavarian and the Cavarian family as it progressed through my education and career. My grandfather was a proud Armenian and public servant like the speaker. They were good friends and my family's admired him for many years. I've been a tour guide at the Massachusett State House for about six years now, teaching people about this great the great state's history. Part of that great history is Speaker Cavarian and his legacy. Thank you. Good morning uh member to the house has been addressed but members of the house and members of the senate uh thank you uh first give an honor to god who is the head of my life. I want to thank him for this prestigious honor. I want to give reverence to George Cavarian family and all of their support.
I've known them for a little bit over an hour and it feels like two years but let's give them a round of applause. I I want to thank my school community. Of course, my Ever High School principal, Dennis Lynch, is here with me today. He is I like to call him my father in education. He has been with me since uh seventh grade, right? Seventh grade. And now we're carrying on to see last year's senior year. So, let's give him a round of applause. And I also want to give a round of applause to Alfred Latani, former city counselor and alderman. He called me about 50,000 times. I don't know if I at first I didn't think I was getting the scholarship because he called me so much so I didn't think so. But I want to thank you for this procedure artist prestigious honor and it's allowing me to be here on this day uh to commemorate the life and the legacy.
Thank [Applause] you. These scholarships are more than just support. They are a legacy. They are a reminder that public service when grounded in compassion can truly change lives. Before you make your way to the lunchon, I encourage you to pause at the bottom of the SC staircase. On the wall directly ahead to the left, you will see a blond bronze plaque permanently embedded in the wall placed there in 1976 to honor the victims of the Armenian genocide. It stands quietly but powerfully as a reminder of why we gather here and why we must never forget. Thank you for letting me share my uncle's story and my families. May we all strive to lead with heart, with fairness, and with courage. Even if his shoes are a little hard to fill, we should all keep trying to walk in them. Thank [Applause] you. Well, congratulations to the recipients.
And as I'm looking at the proud parents, I can see you guys bursting with joy and uh almost happy tears. So, congratulations and thank you to the Cavarian family for making that possible. Uh now, some of you may have heard that US Senator Ed Marky was going to be present today. Unfortunately, he is missing our commemoration to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. Here to deliver a brief message on his behalf is former Representative Jim Canwell, who now serves as Senator Marky's state director. Representative David, thank you sir very much. And as a representative mentioned in opened this these commemorations and these festivities with a moment of silence for Congressman Jim McGovern for his family for their loss of their cherished daughter Molly and for Pope Francis leader of my faith and Senator Marky. Senator Marky received a call just yesterday asking that he rep represent the United States with a small delegation for uh the funeral services uh for the pope.
He sends his apologies and asks that I come and and represent him to read his heartfelt remarks, which I will do now. On the 110th anniversary and commemoration of the Armenian genocide, I join the Armenian community in remembering the 1.5 million Armenians who perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the first generation of the 20th century. For many years, Senator Marky says, I fought alongside you to demand that the United States formally acknowledge the Armenian genocide. And on April 24th, 2021, after decades of advocacy, President Biden finally took that important step, recognizing the genocide and ensuring that the United States stands on the right side of history. Your efforts have power. Tragically, the Armenian people still face existential threats. Azabaian's unprovoked attacks on Naguro Karabak resulted in the forced displacement of 150,000 Armenians from Artza, a continuation of the very genocide we are remembering today.
Last year, Aza Bjan attempted to hijack a United States or United Nations conference called COP 29 to greenwash its egregious human rights and environmental record. Senator Marky says, "I traveled to Baku during COP 29 to demand an immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian political prisoners. He called for that unconditional release of all Armenian political prisoners and the safe return for all ethnic Armenian civilians. Today, Senator Marky is reaffirming his unwavering support for Archar for the right of self-determination under international protection. AAN's aggression did not end with the ethnic cleansing of Arxar Armenians. Aza forces have committed documented war crimes, torture, arbitrary detentions, and war crimes uh the killing of innocent civilians. These crimes demand action. Senator Marky says, "I support the imposition of global Magnitzky act sanctions on Ajaba officials." He is urging Secretary of State Rubio to impose sanctions on those responsible for these grave human rights abuses and war crimes against the Armenian population.
He adds, I will also continue pressing for the immediate release of all those who remain illegally detained by Azaraijan. These prisoners have endured sham trials, inhumane treatment while Azaraijan has denied them basic protections afforded under international law. Adding insult to injury, the senator adds a Jean expelled the international committee of the Red Cross just last month. The only organization authorized to visit Armenian prisoners. The United States must use every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal to secure the immediate release of these detainees. In closing, the senator says, "We also cannot ignore Azabaian's ongoing occupation of Armenian sovereign territory. The buildup of Azeri forces along the border. Continued threats and coercive diplomacy pose a direct threat to Armenia's stability." Senator Marky indicates, "I strongly support increased US security cooperation with Armenia to help protect against these threats to ensure the long-term sec security of Armenia and its people.
As we honor the memory of those lost in the Armenian genocide, the senator wishes to reaffirm his unwavering commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of Armenian lives, culture, and sovereignity. He will continue to work with the Armenian community to ensure that Armenian and Axar have the support they need, not just today, for generations to come. Shernar Hakalem, thank you. [Applause] Thank you. We are so grateful for Senator Marky's commitment to fighting for justice around the world and uh for his great service to this country in so many different ways. And I'll take the opportunity to say that you as his district as state director have been doing a wonderful job serving the Commonwealth. Let's get back truth. When you need when you need something done in Washington, this is the guy to call truly. [Applause] So, it's it's my privilege to introduce our keynote speaker, uh, the Honorable Edward P.
Geredan. His foreign service career has spanned eight United United States administrations. From John F. Kennedy to William J. Clinton. Prior to his nomination as US ambassador to Israel, he was assistant secretary of state for Neareastern affairs in both the George HW Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He was the US ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic. He served as special assistant to President Reagan and as deputy press secretary for foreign affairs in the White House. His other foreign service assignments were to Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, France, and the Soviet Union. Following his retirement from government service in 1994, the ambassador became the founding director of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. He is the author of Danger and Opportunity: An American Ambassador's Journey through the Middle East. He has been awarded the presidential distinguished service award, the departments of states distinguished honor award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the anti-defamation league's moral statesman award, the award for human humanitarian diplomacy from the Natania Econom Academic College in Israel, the National Order of the Cedar bestowed by President Amil Lahood of Lebanon, the order of Osim Aluite bestowed by King Muhammad 6 of Morocco and the order of honor bestowed by President Shir Shagan of Armenia.
He is also a recipient of the association of rice alumni gold medal for his service to Rice University. The ambassador is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and on the board of trustees of the car Carnegie Corporation of New York. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy. He is a proprietor of the Boston AANA and a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belelfford C Center's Middle East initiative. He is married to Franis Andre Lilan Marie Alter and they have two children Gregory and Francesca and four grandchildren Isabelle, Sebastian, Cassandra and Camila. And I cannot imagine a more distinguished speaker for this occasion. Thank you, Ambassador, for being with [Applause] us. Thank you very much, Senator, for that generous introduction. You can see that I've lived a long life. And there's a saying in the Middle East that I'm so old I can remember the Dead Sea when it was only [Laughter] sick.
It is truly my honor to be with you to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide here at the Massachusetts State House, this historic venue. It's interesting why I went into the diplomatic service. The United States foreign service is connected to the genocide. My brother and I were born in New York. We were the children of genocide survivors. Our parents had lost their parents, their grandparents. They made, as was recounted today, the torturous trip to Dezour, to Aleppo, and to these shores in the United States in around the 1920s. And personally for me, my father when he immigrated through Ellis Island, he came here to Worcester and to Watertown. So I feel that we've retired, I'm returning the circle. One of the reasons I went into the foreign service was that in my high school years, it wasn't an intellectual realization, but more emotional and cultural that I realized that why did my brother and I and my parents survive when 1.5 million Armenians perished?
That this was a gift of life that was given to us. and how could I repay this country, the United States of America, that gave safe haven to my parents and to so many Armenians. So I decided that it would be a great privilege to be able to serve my country abroad that represented all the principles and values of democracy and human rights that we are so fond of. In my view, the best way to commemorate the genocide is to move from victimhood to action. And by that I mean how can we the survivors advance and strengthen the Armenian identity, our culture, our religion and the Armenian nation? As Americans of Armenian origin, we need a vision. Armenia today stands at a pivotal crossroads of danger and opportunity with its future hanging in the balance. The relationship between the diaspora and Armenia is a crucial pillar of Armenia's ability to overcome its significant challenges.
An independent and sovereign Armenia serves as the cornerstone of a sustainable diasporan Armenian identity. We and the diaspora have a responsibility to formulate a vision and a strategic approach that supports Armenia and Armenia living in peace and security with all of its neighbors. This is not merely a choice but a crucial obligation for us in the diaspora and for individuals committed to Armenia's peace and prosperity. I believe a shared purpose must guide diaspora Armenian relations, ensuring diasporan policies align with the interests of the Republic of Armenia, where we have almost 3 million Armenians living in our ancestral lands. Armenia remains the best hope for preserving for preserving the Armenian language, our culture, and our statethood. Strengthening Armenia's sovereignty is paramount to securing its prosperity and its survival. As a small state navigating an increasingly complex global system, Armenia must consolidate its democracy and I underline its democracy to thrive.
The challenge lies in uniting Armenians in Armenia and the diaspora to build domestic capacities across all sectors and realize the full benefits of peace, security, and Armenia's independence. So what should our goals be? Well, in foreign policy, Armenia's foreign policy must leverage its potential to become a cultural, economic, and technological hub in the south caucuses. It can be that by positioning itself as a bridge between the north, the south, and the east and the west, Armenia can transform its border regions into zones of prosperity rather than isolation, danger, and warfare. Another goal is democracy and security. a dem a democratic Armenia governed by the rule of law, ensuring economic prosperity and pursuing a pragmatic national security policy will strengthen its military and domestic security to deter external threats. Armenia must prioritize normalization of its relations with its neighbors to minimize the threats to its existence, reduce dependence on foreign powers and secure stable borders.