MIRROR SPECTATOR

Daniel Varoujan Hejinian Honored With
Distinguished Service Award

By Rosario Teixeira

BOSTON- On Sunday, April 21, 2002, the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley commemorated the 87th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in a ceremony that took place at the auditorium of the West Middle School in Andover, Massachusetts. After the Deacons of the Armenian Churches in the Merrimack Valley conducted the Requiem Service, the event's master of ceremonies, Mr. Paul Ketchoyian, welcomed the audience. The keynote speaker was state representative the Honorable Linda Melconian. Senator Susan Tucker presented the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley with a proclamation from the Senate in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, and for their dedication and services to the Community.

The theme of the commemoration was the strength of the Armenian family. The Armenian Choral Group of the Merrimack Valley, directed by John Magarian, Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church of Providence, Rhode Island Children's Choir, directed by Konstantin Petrossian, and the Nazeli Dance Group, directed by Gayane Avagyan, represented the new generation of Armenians. They honored the survivors of the Armenian Genocide with their traditional Armenian music and dance. In spite of the somber invocation of the historical event that was remembered, the whole commemoration was a celebration of life and rebirth.

This year the Committee honored Mr. John Baronian, of Medford, Massachusetts, and Mr. Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Mr. John Baronian "has served the Armenian community of Massachusetts with pride and distinction." His extensive contributions to the community have been very valuable. He established a Scholarship Fund in the name of his parents John and Margaret Baronian, and he has been a passionate recruiter of Armenian students for Tufts University. He received the Medal of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, the highest Pontifical Award bestowed by the Armenian church.

Mr. Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation. Mr. Hejinian is well known in the community for his contributions to charitable organizations, and for the Armenian Genocide commemorative billboards. In the last seven years, Mr. Hejinian has designed the billboards that are displaced in the heart of the Armenian community in the Greater Boston Area. The billboards are sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor, where Mr. Hejinian holds the position of art director. With the billboards, Mr. Hejinian pays tribute to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and to the memory of those who perished in April 1915. The message of the billboards has been constant that the Armenian Genocide must be recognized, as an undeniable historical event.
Mr. Hejinian has been the recipient of many awards for his services to the Armenian community. In 1997 he was honored and received the Republic of Armenia Medal from the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of the Greater Boston. Also, in 1997 he was the recipient of the Armenian Art Renaissance Medal from the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of Merrimack Valley. In 2001 he was one of the public speakers at Copley Square in Boston, for the commemoration of the 86th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In 1997, Daniel Varoujan Hejinian received the Best of Boston artist award from the Improper Bostonian Magazine, and in 1999, he was honored by Arts Around Boston Magazine. In 1997, the 46 religious murals he painted at Saint Vartananzts Apostolic Armenian Church in Chelmsford, caught the media's attention, and a documentary about his life, his paintings and his murals, was televised on a public channel.

Daniel Varoujan Hejinian is a well known artist in the art community. His paintings are represented in many individual and corporate fine art collections in the United States and abroad. His art work has been available in many fine art galleries in the United States from Boston to Miami. He's perhaps one of the few great artists to cross into the 21st century. Presently, he's represented by Collectors Palette and his work can be seen on the web at www.CollectorsPalette.com.

Daniel Varoujan Hejinian has painted religious murals in several Armenian Churches throughout the United States, including 46 murals in St. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and 17'x 21' mural in the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Belmont, Massachusetts. Some of his church murals may be seen at www.ArmenianChurch-art.com.

Mr. Hejinian is the founder of Peace-of-Art, a non-profit organization that promotes peace through art. It is the intent of Peace-of-Art to bring awareness to human suffering, and promote peaceful resolutions. This is a global show that will travel through the United States and abroad. He contributed to many humanitarian and charitable organizations with his art. Peace-of-Art takes this a step further and transcends the local community projecting his efforts onto the universal stage.

Daniel Varoujan Hejinian left Armenia for the United States twenty-two years ago, but he didn't leave behind his heritage and his faith. His strength stems from his heritage, his family, and his church. It is only appropriate that he would be honored on this occasion when the theme of the event is the strength of the Armenian family. Mr. Hejinian resides in Chelmsford with his wife Gayane, daughter Betty and son Armen.