Attention Glendale Armenians

The work we have done on a little community park here in Silver Lake reminds me of a visit almost two years ago to a small park a hemisphere away.

In September 2008, we visited Montevideo, Uruguay, for a couple days during a trip to South America.  After visiting the cemetery where my great-uncle is buried, we asked the taxi driver to drop us off at one of the most special places I have ever encountered during my travels.

Facing the Atlantic Ocean in the Buceo section of Montevideo, on a street named Rambla Armenia lies a park named, conveniently enough, Plaza Armenia.

On top of a grassy knoll sits a modern sculpture sprawled above a reflecting pool.  “Armenia” is written in Armenian script on the sculpture’s base, which matches the bright celeste blue that marks the Uruguayan flag.

Nearby is a granite market, which simply says:

“From your adopted children is this symbol of gratitude and loyalty.”

Montevideo, a city of 1.5 million, includes a fairly large Armenian population.  The city has at least five Armenian churches, and was the first country in the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915.  The country has had its share of hard knocks, but is abundant in resources, has a dazzling coastline, and benefits from its educated and sophisticated people.

So in 1971, in celebration of Montevideo’s 250^th anniversary, the Armenian community presented their adopted city with this park.

It seems to me that the Armenian community could do the same for Glendale.  For that matter, any ethnic community could—and perhaps should—do the same for a country that is not perfect, but has welcomed countless people from abroad.

I suggest that the Armenians in Glendale learn from their Uruguayan cousins and build something similar.  It would be a great way to build bridges with other citizens in the area.

And I have to say that it was hard to leave that special spot in Montevideo.  Just looking at these pictures today brought back memories of this special city, and made me a little wistful—and almost tearful.