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In honor of the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence by America’s Founding Fathers, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the United States organized a landmark reception at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, DC. On May 1st, 2026, nearly 400 guests including high-level officials from the White House, National Security Council, and Departments of State, Commerce, Energy and War, senior policymakers, and diplomats, as well as business leaders and community members from across the country, joined in celebration of “Armenians in America 250: Honoring the Impact on the Past, Present and Future,” making it one of the largest recent gatherings dedicated to celebrating Armenian-American contributions to the United States. The event formed part of the broader USA250 initiative supported by the White House Office of Public Liaison.
The reception coincided with two additional milestones of note in 2026: the 120th anniversary of AGBU’s founding and the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, lending the evening a rare convergence of commemorations.
Program Highlights
The Shnorhali Dzayner Children’s Choir of St. Mary Shnorhali Armenian School in Washington, DC, opened the program with the national anthems of the United States and Armenia. The program then continued with welcoming remarks from AGBU Central Board Member Haig Ariyan, the evening’s master of ceremonies, who traced the arc of the Armenian American story from Jamestown to the present day. Rev. Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, retired pastor of Holy Ascension Church of Trumbull, CT, offered opening prayers then delivered a joint message on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, and His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
Remarks were delivered by four distinguished speakers. Armenia’s Ambassador to the US, H.E. Narek Mkrtchyan underscored the longstanding relationship between the Armenian homeland and the land home to so many Armenians. “Our two nations share deep civilizational values,” noted Mkrtchyan, “A commitment to liberty, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness—principles that have guided both Armenians and Americans since the 18th century… Today, Armenia stands proudly among democratic nations, with the United States as a key partner. Since Armenia’s independence, the United States has strongly supported its democratic development.”
Jeffrey Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, spoke about US-Armenia relations reaching new heights, especially with respect to AI and High Tech, thanks to the growing support of many Armenians in the industry present at the event. “The Trump Administration is focused on building a more secure and prosperous world and that of course means delivering peace and prosperity to the South Caucasus through partnerships for lasting peace,” he noted.
Keith Krach, former Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment and currently CEO of Freedom 250, highlighted the Armenian values that give definition to freedom. “More than 1700 years ago, Armenia made the defining choice to anchor itself in faith and dignity, and through centuries of hardship, that identity was not just remembered, it was preserved and it was passed on and you can see the results.”
In his keynote address, AGBU President Sam Simonian reflected on the Armenian presence in America: “The story of America is, at its heart, a story of immigrants who believed in freedom and worked to make that freedom meaningful. The Armenian American story is one chapter of that larger American story — a chapter written with perseverance, sacrifice, and hope.”
Paying tribute to Armenians from the “Greatest Generation” whose service and sacrifice helped win the Second World War, AGBU Co-Vice President Arda Haratunian announced the reissued limited edition of Our Boys: Armenian American Veterans of World War II, originally published by AGBU in 1951. The book documents hundreds of Armenian American servicemembers, drawn from communities across the United States and spanning all ranks and branches of the military—many of them sons and daughters of Armenian Genocide survivors. Copies were formally presented by Ambassador Mkrtchyan and President Simonian to Jaxon Croy, Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at the White House, and Sonata Coulter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing Russia, the Caucasus, and European Security and Political Affairs.
A special appearance was made by Robin the Robot, a social-emotional robot designed to bring comfort and connection to patients in healthcare settings. Invented in Armenia and developed in Silicon Valley, Robin is currently deployed in more than 40 hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities across the country, and made Time magazine’s 2021 list of “Best Inventions.” A vivid illustration of the marvels of Armenian innovations, Robin highlighted Armenians in America whose service, inventions and contributions have made an impact on not only the United States but the world.
Armenian American contributions to the US were a recurring theme throughout the evening. Some served in Congress, the state executive branches, the federal judiciary, and the diplomatic corps. Others founded companies in agriculture, manufacturing, finance, technology, and media. Haig Ariyan emphasized that AGBU itself, founded in 1906, has been led for more than 80 years by American-based presidents, including Arshag Karageusian, an immigrant rug manufacturer who was commissioned to make the carpet for Radio City Music Hall and the US Supreme Court Building, Alex Manoogian, an immigrant entrepreneur who invented the single-handle Delta faucet and employer of tens of thousands of American workers; Louise Manoogian Simone, who directed relief efforts after the 1988 Spitak Earthquake and established the American University of Armenia; Berge Setrakian, a distinguished corporate attorney from Beirut, who modernized the organization and strengthened ties between the Diaspora and the homeland. Current President Sam Simonian, an immigrant tech entrepreneur and engineer, together with his wife Sylva, founded the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. Initially in Armenia, TUMO now spans the globe with its first US location in Los Angeles, California.
The evening concluded with a performance by Marta & Folk Orchestra, whose reimagined arrangements of Armenian folk, classical, and goosan (minstrel) songs including works by the renowned Armenian composer Komitas, brought the evening to a resonant close.
Reflecting on the evening, Simonian noted: “Nights like this remind us of who we are and where we come from. The Armenian American story did not end with survival. It continued with contribution, innovation, and service to America, which we now call home. As AGBU enters its 120th year, I am more convinced than ever that the best chapters of this story are still ahead, written by a new generation of Armenian Americans who are masters across industries and our leaders in the making.”
