CHANCE DISCOVERY LEADS TO RARE ARMENIAN HERO
by Tom Vartabedian
January 23, 2013
CHELMSFORD, Mass.-Like a model ship wedged inside a bottle, Gary
Koltookian feels that’s where he belongs.
Memorial for Khachadour P. Garabedian is unveiled in Philadelphia as
a tribute to the only known Armenian to have served in combat during
the American Civil War. Joined in the project were Gary Koltookian,
left, and Paul Sookiasian.
It would be quite natural for the antique bottle-collector. One look at
his collection and you’ll see why. It comes in all shapes and sizes,
most all vintage, secured above and below the ground, yard sales,
flea marts, and hand-me-downs.
His calling card reads “Bottle Gary.” That’s how people around the
Merrimack Valley know this community activist.
One day in 1991, Koltookian was meandering through a flea market in
Hollis, N.H., searching for bottles, when he crossed paths with a
document that caught his attention
There, in some remote part of the country, Koltookian’s eyes were drawn
to an 1855 issue of the Lowell Courier on a dealer’s table, containing
an advertisement placed by a chap named “Menas Garabed, cabinet-maker,
who once lived in his very own community-next city over.”
“Wow. 1855. An Armenian in Lowell,” he remarked.
Come to find out, the man’s given name was Khachadour P. Garabedian.
He worked in the Lowell mills and became the only known Armenian to
have served in combat during the American Civil War.
Koltookian gathered information from mid-century Lowell newspapers,
old Lowell city directories, a record book of Union Navy officers,
and the National Archives, namely the military pensions division.
>>From the documents, he learned that Garabedian was discharged as
a sailor in Philadelphia, and worked, married, died, and was buried
there upon his death in 1881. He called his nephew’s father-in-law in
Philadelphia to investigate the gravesite and was stunned by the news.
There was no surviving marker or stone commemorating Garabedian’s
death.
Based upon the information he had received, Koltookian wrote an article
for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator in 2004 telling Garabedian’s story,
which caught the attention of Paul Sookiasian.
The Philadelphia college student read his article and was inspired to
raise funds for a fitting memorial. With the aid of the Philadelphia
Armenian-American Veterans, enough money was collected for the project.
Last October-eight years after that article was published-a dedication
ceremony and requiem was conducted at Garabedian’s final resting
place in Lansdowne, Pa., where a traditional Armenian khatchkar was
erected in his honor.
An Armenian Civil War sailor’s honor had been restored at last,
thanks to a chance encounter.
“There were not many Armenians in America during the 1860’s,” said
Koltookian, whose ancestors arrived here after the turn of the
century. “Those like Khachadour were among the few making America
their home.”
The 78-year-old Koltookian is a retired social studies teacher,
historian, researcher, collector, and member of the Lowell Historical
Society. He’s served on local Armenian Genocide commemoration
committees and belongs to the Merrimack Valley Knights of Vartan.
He will present a talk on the subject on Thurs., Feb. 7, at noon,
during an Avak luncheon at St. Gregory Armenian Church, 158 Main St.,
North Andover, Mass. The public is cordially invited to attend.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/01/23/chance-discovery-leads-to-rare-armenian-hero/