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Fund for Armenian Relief
Press Release
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Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: press@farusa.org
web: www.farusa.org
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Margaret Ahnert Discusses New Genocide Book in Washington, DC
Margaret Ajemian Ahnert, author of The Knock at the Door: A Journey Through the Darkness of the Armenian Genocide spoke about her book on Wednesday evening, April 15, 2009 at the Armenian embassy in Washington, DC.
Hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the United States and the Fund for Armenian Relief, the author - winner of the 2008 New York Book Fair Award for Best Historical Memoir - discussed her book to a sizeable crowd that included members of the Armenian community of Washington DC, representatives of the Armenian organizations, friends of FAR, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and his wife, Donna.
In The Knock at the Door, Ahnert tells her mother Ester's story about surviving the brutality of the Armenian Genocide and her eventual escape to the United States. As she writes about her mother's plight and survival, she conveys the intimate relationship she shares with her 98 year old mother.
Ahnert - who is on her third book tour - said that The Knock at the Door started out as her master's thesis when she was a graduate student. Building on her thesis, she wrote The Knock at the Door as a mother-daughter story expressing conversations between her and her mom.
Growing up, Ahnert's mother told her stories about her life and escaping the Genocide. These stories affected Ahnert's life and as she got older she realized she wanted to find out more about her family's story of survival and write a memoir for her children and grandchildren. "I had no idea it would be as big as it is," said Ahnert, who was honored recently as the recipient of the Distinguished Humanitarian Award.
Ahnert has not only received acclaim for her book but is also educating non-Armenians about the Armenian Genocide. "My goal and mission in life is to tell the story to the non-Armenians who ask me what the Armenian Genocide is," said Ahnert, emphasizing the importance of fostering dialogue about the Genocide and teaching people who will in turn educate others.
Since her book was published in 2007, Ahnert has made appearances around the world for book presentations. "It's been just tremendous," said Ahnert about the positive reception her book has received. "People have embraced me, my mother and my book. It's been a beautiful experience." Ahnert is currently booked through December 2009 and has been invited a second time from Yale University to present her book.
Regarding her book presentation in Washington, D.C. at the Armenian embassy, Ahnert was pleased with the attendance and graciousness of both FAR and the Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian.
"FAR does wonderful things in Armenia and it is a commendable organization," said Ahnert.
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About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served hundreds of thousands of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in Armenia and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide range of projects including emergency relief, construction, education, medical aid, and economic development.
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For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; http://www.farusa.org; e-mail press@farusa.org.
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