The 98-year-old patriarch of literature of the Armenian Diaspora Jack S. Hagopian that has tirelessly worked and served almost eight decades and is always full of youthful vigor and enthusiasm, declared these words on his tribute. On Saturday, 7 February 2015, at the Gala Evening of the Theater Festival of Hamazkayin, before the "Shkhonts Mihran" performance, the Central Executive Board organized a ceremony and granted the Highest Medal of Honor to the well-known poet, writer and intellectual, Jack S. Hagopian.
Central Executive Board member, Dr.Vigen Yacoubian spoke about the writer’s achievements in literature saying, "The distinguished writer Jack S. Hagopian’s first poem published in 1938 made certain that the young author will dedicate his pen to his worshipped nation forever. I believe, that one day Jack S. Hagopian’s creations, symbolizing the multi-colored mosaic of the diasporic experience, will play a significant role in reunifying the Armenia-Diaspora roots."
Then, he invited Jack S. Hagopian to the stage and granted him the Highest Honor Medal of the Educational and Cultural Society of Hamazkayin. The hero of the day expressed his gratitude to God, people and especially to the Central Executive Board of Hamazkayin for such honor and said, "This is one of the happiest moments of my life." The audience expressed love and gratitude to the talented writer with ovation and inspired him to read his poem called "Today, my five years old boy".
The audience was attentively following the emotional recitation and enjoyed the poem, which showed the author’s anxiety about the potential assimilation danger and was directed to the parents, which enroll their children in foreign schools having no choice. Jack S. Hagopian was in his element. He had been awarded before by the Catholikoses, but this award was of special value, because the Festival reminded him about his drama "The Crane Calls" which he considered his life story happened at a crucial moment of his life.
This event was certainly another glorious page, which enriched the Hamazkayin’s treasury.
The Hamazkayin Western Regional Executive Board