THE ARMENIAN AMERICAN VETERANS

LOWELL,  MASSACHUSETTS

1952-2026

          In 1947, a group of Armenian American Veterans of World War II gathered at the Pine Street Potato Chip Company located on Gorham Street in Lowell.  At this meeting the Armenian American Veterans of Lowell was established.   Menas Boghosian was elected Commander and Kirk Kirkorian as the Finance Officer.  The group grew in numbers and in activity and on February 4, 1952, the organization was officially chartered under the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

            Over the years, the group has served the Armenian and the Greater Lowell Community in many ways.  They have volunteered their services to veterans’ hospitals and other veterans’ organizations.  The Veterans have sponsored and continue to sponsor Christmas parties for the children of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church and for many years donated Easter baskets for the children at Easter.  Roses were given to the women after church services on Mother’s Day.

            Every Memorial Day, the Veterans continue their tradition of remembrance by conducting special grave side ceremonies of their deceased members with prayers and placement of the American Flag at every grave site.  The Veterans participate at the funerals of deceased members with a color guard, firing squad and taps.  The group has participated in the City of Lowell Memorial Day parade for years and has organized the parade on many occasions.  A member of the organization is represented on the Veterans’ Council of Lowell.

            The Veterans have participated and continue to participate with other Armenian community and church groups celebrating Martyrs Day annually in Lowell and have helped celebrate Martyrs Day in Lawrence. 

            On two occasions the City of Lowell, with the help of the Veterans, celebrated Veterans Day, November 11th  in Sts Vartanantz Armenian Church when the church was in Lowell.  On both occasions the Armenian American Veterans were honored for their service to the community.

            In 1975, the organization purchased a building in Lowell and named it the “Sam Manoian Post #1 of Lowell” in honor of his dedication and many years of service to the organization not only as a member but also as a Past Commander.  The building served as a meeting place, provided space for small social functions and since it contained bowling lanes, bowling leagues were available for members and their families.  

            On November 16, 1986, the Veterans presented to the City of Lowell  a monument dedicated to the Armenian forefathers who came to Lowell and formed the Armenian community.  This small community of Armenians has grown to become a vital part of the fabric of  Greater Lowell.

            The Veterans established an Endowment Fund with the proceeds from the sale of their building.  This Endowment Fund has allowed the organization to award scholarships to worthy college bound students for the past 15 years totaling $80,000. The Veterans sponsor an annual Scholarship Dinner-Dance as a fund raiser in order to increase the value of the Endowment Fund thus allowing for more scholarships.  The scholarship

program is named “The Menas Boghosian Scholarships” in honor of the first Commander and then for many years, the Finance Officer.

            The Emblem of the Armenian American Veterans of Lowell was designed by Harry Hoshmatian, a veteran of World War I.  The flag is used in parades as part of the color guard and is among the flags hanging in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium Hall of Flags.

            The present members of the Armenian American Veterans have served our country proudly in World War II, the Korean War and in Vietnam and are presently available to serve our country again in the defense of our freedom and in the pursuit of world peace.