CONCERT| On Monte Melkonyan's 55th anniversary

We will sing for you to wake up again, as we will sing for us to wake up

It wasn’t by mere coincidence that the event commemorating the 55th birthday of Monte Melkonian, national hero of RA and Artsakh War, at Naregatsi Art Institute started off with the famous patriotic military song “Wake up, Lao.”

It was a plea for awakening that was initiated by the musical group at ‘’Forte’’ Scientific-Cultural NGO for people with disabilities.

This was a truly touching evening organized by people with visual impairments to commemorate the birthday of Armenia’s legendary national hero. The members of ‘’Forte’’ NGO presented the biography and quotes of the legendary hero, performed patriotic songs, along with songs and poems written about Monte with incredible emotion and enthusiasm. The evening transmitted an incredible energy to all the attendees. According to Sipan Asatryan, the president of Forte, the event pursued an educational and cognitive objective.
Monte was someone who was devoted to his philosophy and his homeland wholeheartedly. For me, he is the best example of patriotism. I would be happy if all the Armenians could identify with at least 10% of Monte’s ideas,” mentions Sipan Asatryan. Hayk Papikyan shared Sipan’s opinion and added: “Exceptional heroes like Monte, make me and my friends feel responsible for spreading the word about our national heroes.”

Among the attendees of the event was the legendary freedom fighter Alek Yenigomshyan, who spoke at the end of the event. “I am really touched and inpsired… Monte was an incredible fighter and a General of the Army. He is not expecting our homage to him. Tonight, our friends did not pay him homage, but gave him a modest present for his 55th anniversary, maybe the dearest present for him,” said Alek Yenigomshyan adding that he could see the quality of Armenia that Monte himself would wish to see- a homeland of creative and high-cultured people.
Gagik Ginosyan, the Art Director of “Karin” ensemble, said: “We are a strong nation. If these boys and girls, in spite of their physical disabilities can be stronger than those who are doing nothing but ripping off our country, sitting in the chairs that have the blood of Monte, Leonid and thousands of other heroes on them, then we are invincible, because we can still give birth to such children.”

The founder of Naregatsi Art Institute, Nareg Hartounian greeted the audience with these words: “Thanks to you, Monte’s spirit is here with us tonight and we bow before him. NAI is honored to have heroes like all of you in ‘’Forte’’. You have chosen the right name for you. I don’t know if Monte’s birthday is being celebrated anywhere else, but tonight we are together and you brought his soul to us and we are grateful to you .
Later on Nareg Hartounian also mentioned that Monte’s wife, Seta Melkonian was the first director of Naregatsi Art Institute.
Nareg Hartounian presented NAI symbolic souvenirs to the members of the self-active musical group of the ‘’Forte” Scientific-Cultural NGO.