GRANADA HILLS, CA – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) supporters and friends gathered together at the home of Nishan and Nairi Bostanian to honor San Fernando Valley Congressman Brad Sherman on June 3, 2005. The Congressman has been a tireless advocate of issues of concern to the Armenian American community over the years and has actively pursued these issues in the halls of Congress throughout his tenure representing the 27th Congressional District in California.

Congressman Sherman enthusiastically greeted the attendees and outlined his longstanding support of Armenian issues. He began by thanking the ANCA and the Armenian American community for their hard work and vigilance in the area of genocide recognition and support for the Republic of Armenia.

“One of the first things I did when I was elected to Congress was to join the Armenian Caucus,” stated Rep. Sherman in his remarks. “Since that time I have worked and will continue working side by side with the Armenian community and the ANCA to ensure that the Republic of Turkey comes to terms with its genocidal past,” he said.

Ara Papazian, Chairman of the West San Fernando Valley chapter of the ANCA thanked the many supporters who came to meet and spend an evening with Congressman Sherman. Papazian stressed the importance of Armenian Americans becoming politically active in their communities and establishing relationships with their elected officials.

Steven Dadaian, who chairs the Western Region Board of Directors of the ANCA, summarized the Congressman’s many achievements on behalf of the Armenian American community in Congress and thanked him for his unrelenting support of Armenian issues and in the strengthening of the Republic of Armenia.

“Nine years ago Brad Sherman, while a candidate, made a promise to our community to support our causes,” reminisced Dadaian. “Not only has he honored his promise, but he has been in the forefront in advocating the Armenian Cause,” he stated.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.