PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian
Studies and Research (NAASR)
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
NAASR CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE TO FEATURE TALK AND BOOK LAUNCH WITH PAUL IGNATIUS
Former Secretary of the Navy Paul R. Ignatius will speak in
conjunction with the publication of his new book 5 x 3: Fifteen Books
by Three Great Armenian Writers by NAASR’s Armenian Heritage Press,
highlighting NAASR’s 2013 Christmas Open House on Thursday, December
12, 2013. The Open House will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Ignatius’ talk
set for 8:00 p.m. The evening’s events will take place at the NAASR
Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA.
Both before and after the lecture, NAASR’s bookstore will be open and
feature a one night only 20%-off sale, with additional discounts of
40% or more on selected titles. Numerous recently published titles
will be available. Refreshments will be served. Ignatius’ book 5 x 3
will be available for purchase and signing by the author.
About Paul R. Ignatius
Paul R. Ignatius served for eight years in the presidential
administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, first as an
Assistant Secretary of the Army, then as Under Secretary of the Army
and Assistant Secretary of Defense, and finally in 1967 as Secretary
of the Navy. Following his government service, he was president of
the Washington Post for two years and president of the Air Transport
Association for fifteen years.
Ignatius is the recipient of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service
Award, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Department
of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award. Earlier this year, the
U.S. Navy announced that a future Navy destroyer will bear the name
USS Paul Ignatius.
A descendant of Armenian parents from the Kharpert region of Historic
Armenia, Ignatius is a native of Glendale, California, and a graduate
of the University of Southern California. He earned an MBA from
Harvard University after serving as a naval officer in World War II.
He is also the author of the memoirs On Board: My Life in the Navy,
Government, and Business (Naval Institute Press, 2006) and Now I Know
in Part, the second edition of which was published by NAASR in 2011.
About 5 x 3
5 x 3: Fifteen Books by Three Great Armenian Writers offers summaries,
commentaries, and anecdotes by Ignatius on a selection of works by
Leon Z. Surmelian (I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen, 98.6, The
Daredevils of Sassoun, Apples of Immortality, and Techniques of
Fiction Writing), Michael Arlen (The London Venture, The Green Hat,
Hell! Said the Duchess, Babes in the Woods, and Man’s Mortality), and
William Saroyan (The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, Inhale &
Exhale, Three Times Three, My Name is Aram, Sons Come & Go, Mothers
Hang In Forever), three major twentieth century Armenian authors
writing in English.
Mixing the keen observations of an astute and experienced reader with
the personal observations and witty asides of a born raconteur,
Ignatius brings a fresh perspective to books that are both familiar
and obscure.
Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). The NAASR
Center is located opposite the First Armenian Church and next to the
U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available around the building and
in adjacent areas. More information about the lecture is available by
calling 617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or
writing to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.
# # # # #
Belmont, MA
November 18, 2013