This year "Literary Gems and Wine" evening took place at the Armenian Center in Woodside and was dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The number of participants was 14. Most of them were America born Armenians. One participant was from Canada, one from Lebanon and two participants were from Armenia.
The Chapter Chairperson, Astghik Sevak made the opening speech saying, "Our souls are always full of grief in April. The recollections of terrible scenes - miserable men, kidnapped and raped virgins and young women, barefoot and hungry children and elderly people wandering under the scorching sun and in the burning sands of Deir Zor. The sorrow gnaws at our hearts every spring. We can never forget it. Despite all the efforts made and the steps taken, we feel helpless and depressed. We expect justice and mercy from the world, from the peoples and governments (I believe, it is in vain). However, we have to focus on the positive.
The Hamazkayin New York has been bringing its modest contribution to the Armenian Cause by organizing such events every April for 36 years, trying to involve the young generation of the diaspora in this initiative, during which they read Armenian poetry and prose and study pieces from the rich Armenian literature.