St. Sarkis Church of Glendale presents AANSI Chairman/U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark MacCarley with The Order of St. Sarkis Medal
Posted on February. 4. 2024
On Sat. Jan. 27, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, California presented AANSI Chairman/U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark MacCarley with The Order of St. Sarkis Medal. The presentation of the Medal of Honor took place during a special ceremony after the Holy Mass in Observance of Saint Sarkis The Warrior.
A host of American and Armenian government officials as a well as a number of other dignitaries were in attendance. Among them was Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian.
Several hundred members of the St. Sarkis Armenian Parish along with the Parish Council participated in the moving religious ceremonies led by Founding Pastor Rev. Petros Baghramyan, Rev. Davit Sahakyan, Upland’s Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church’s Founding Pastor Reverend Kevork Halladjian, Very Rev. Vrouyr Demirjian honoring The American Armenian National Security Institute (AANSI) Founding Chairman/U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark MacCarley.
During the presentation ceremony, Rev. Baghramyan expressed his and the Parish members’ appreciation to Mr. MacCarley for the latter’s great humanitarian and educational contributions to the twin republics of Armenia and Artsakh/ Nagorno Karabakh.
Words of appreciation were also expressed by City of Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian and Gen. Rudy Hyusnunts. On this most auspicious occasion, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) issued a Congressional Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition honoring Mr. MacCarley. The Congressional Certificate was presented by Mr. Vosgan Mekhitarian.
Rev. Kevork Halladjian and Very Rev. Vrouyr Demirjian respectively in English and Armenian presented brief remarks on Mr. MacCarley’s illustrious military and humanitarian career achievements in service of America, Armenia, and human civilization.
Mr. MacCarley is a former Deputy Commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrination Command.
Rev. Sahakyan said: “Saint Sarkis the General or Sergius Stratelates is revered as a martyr and military saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church. The name Sarkis (Sargis) is the Armenian form of Sergius (Sergios).” He explained that “St. Sarkis lived during the 4th century – an appointee of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great as General in Chief of the region of Cappadocia bordering Armenia, was reputed to possess the characteristics of piety, faith, and valor, and used his position to promote spiritual growth and freedom of religion. He fought valiantly to defend basic human rights in the face of despotic rulers.”
Rev. Baghramyan stated that “U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark MacCarley has done so much and continues to do so for the twin Republics of Armenia and Artsakh.”
Rev. Kevork Halladjian and Very Rev. Vrouyr Demirjian respectively in Armenian and English noted that “In the aftermath of the 2020’s 44-Day anti-Armenian Aggression by Azerbaijan Turkiye and ISIS, General (Ret.) MacCarley led the first American/Western team of journalists that was able to enter Artsakh and become the first American journalists to arrive in Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh Republic since the end of the 44-Day War. As the Founding Chairman of The American Armenian National Security Institute (AANSI) Mr. MacCarley has led and continues to do so several journalistic and educational missions to Armenia and Artsakh Republics.”
Both clergy members continued: “In August 2023 Mr. MacCarley led the first ever AANSI Humanitarian Support Brigade training in Armenia mobilizing nearly 50 people from seven countries who deployed to Armenia. Under Mr. MacCarley’s leadership, the members of the AANSI Humanitarian Support Brigade participated in groundbreaking training provided by highly qualified American and Armenian trainers from the American and Armenian Red Cross, Republic of Armenia Interior Ministry’s Emergency Situations Department as well Defense Ministry’s Information and Cyber-Security Department.”
Mr. MacCarley expressed his gratitude for the honor and acknowledgement bestowed upon him and he expressed his readiness to continue on with his efforts. He announced that The AANSI Humanitarian Support Brigade second training in Armenia will take place in June 2024 with the participation of over 100 volunteers.
Rev. Halladjian and Very Rev. Demirjian underlined that the driving force behind Mr. MacCarley’s noble idea is to create a culture throughout the Diaspora and the Homeland in being ready for physical deployment from all corners of the Diaspora “within 96 hours upon notification by Armenian officials when a natural disaster such as earthquake, flood, massive fire strikes in Armenia; or manmade disaster such as war erupts at the hands by neighboring Azerbaijan against the defenseless civilian population throughout Armenia,” as underlined by Mr. MacCarley.”
Several non-Armenian Americans and American Armenians have rallied around AANSI’s great mission of supporting Armenia/Artsakh’s Sovereignty, Independence and Defence. Many are gearing up for continued participation in AANSI’s groundbreaking initiatives. Stay tuned.