Armenian president awarded Ellis Island medal of honor

YEREVAN, September 23. / ARKA /. Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan had the first stop in the sidelines of his US trip in the Ellis Island, Hudson River, where he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) in recognition of his contribution to development of Armenian-U.S. relations, Armenia's commitment to peace in the South Caucasus, as well as for his activities for integration of immigrants in Armenia, Sargsyan’s press service told ARKA. It said the medal was awarded by National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations chairman Nasser Kazemini.

Serzh Sargsyan became the first foreign head of state awarded the medal since its inception 25 years ago. Thousands of people, including six U.S. presidents, tens of state secretaries, Senators and Congressmen, Nobel prize winners, as well as art people have been awarded this medal.

"This medal is awarded to outstanding individuals, who are examples of serving their public, who make great contribution to preservation and glorification of the history of their ancestors, who create links between cultural groups,’ Kazemini said describing Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to USA as historic as his country is celebrating the 20-th anniversary of independence. President Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the award. 

"Today I am excited and proud to accept this award, also on behalf of Armenians who went through the Ellis Island and their descendants. I accept it as an assessment of the progress made by Armenians on these distant shores, as a symbol of further development of Armenian-American friendship and partnership," Sargsyan said.

President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Ellis Island, the Museum of Immigrants and saw the exhibition to the Armenian genocide and made remarks in the book of honorable guests. The Ellis Island is famous for serving as a gateway for millions of immigrants. During the years of Great Genocide Ellis Island happened to be a gateway for ninety five thousand Armenians who survived Turkish massacres. In 1954 the gateway was closed and in 1976 the museum of immigrants was founded. It has a special section about the Armenian genocide of 1915 and Armenian immigrants. 

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children. The medals are awarded to native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens from various ethnic backgrounds. The honorees are said to "exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. The medals were established at the time of NECO's founding in 1986. A ceremony is held each May on Ellis Island. Both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Each year’s recipients are read into the Congressional Record. -0-