The St. Margaret’s Parent Teacher Fellowship Library Luncheon Committee
organized the annual event to raise funds for the school’s library. The
luncheon was held in the gardens of a beautiful home in San Juan
Capistrano. There were over 40 tables at the catered event. Each table had
a hostess who decorated her table based on the theme of a book she
donated to the school’s library
The Armenian table was decorated by table hostess Joy Keuylian, with help
from Joni Boranian. The table was filled with red, blue, and orange ribbons
and golden bejeweled crosses. At each place setting there was a small
Armenian flag, an orange vase with a red candle and a blue ribbon, a place
card with each guest’s name written in Armenian, beautifully designed cloth
napkins silk screened with the Armenian alphabet, and a book titled “Who
Are the Armenians” explaining the history of the Armenian people. Each
guest was also served Armenian wine and pomegranate tea. The wonderful
centerpiece was made from 3 posters: The Armenian Alphabet, “First
Christian Country in the World,” and “The Nation that Would Not Die.”
“The Nation That Would Not Die” poster was specially prepared for the event
by the Armenian National Committee of Orange County and depicted an
Armenian Woman carrying her child and a rifle; the same image that ANC-
OC used for its event commemorating the Armenian Genocide in April of
2006, and is on the ANC-OC commemorative t-shirt.
The Armenian table was the only “historical” or “cultural” table at the event
and was met with great enthusiasm and amazement, as all the attendees
learned something new about Armenian culture and history. The posters
provided the attendees with the knowledge that Armenians had their own
alphabet and were the first nation to adopt Christianity as their religion in
301. Much valuable discussion took place explaining the Armenian
Genocide, as a result of the beautiful and powerful poster prepared by the
Armenian National Committee of Orange County especially for this event.
Many of the attendees later said that the Armenian Table was an
educational and enlightening experience that gave them a new
understanding and greater appreciation for a very deep rooted culture.
There were over 400 attendees at the event, of which only a handful were
Armenian. “This was an excellent opportunity to introduce our culture and
heritage to a large group of individuals, who would otherwise not be familiar
with Armenians,” stated ANC-OC Chairman Garo Madenlian. “We’re proud
to have community members such as Joy Keuylian take the initiative and
organize such a wonderful visual presentation that created interest and
enthusiasm.”
Also at the Armenian Table hosted by Joy Keuylian were Berjouhi Krikorian,
Asdghig Keuylian, Christime Vartanian, Asdghig Kamal, Norma Kassarjian,
Jackie Fakjian, Ingrid Andrews, and Jill Tilton.
