ASO Spotlight-Chardukian Project Focuses on Honoring Veterans

Tadeh Issakhanian

Staff Writer

The Armenian Students Organization has many exemplary members who make an impact in the local community. Among them are sisters Lauren and Marina Chardukian. Lauren, a senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Armenian Studies, will be graduating this Spring, while Marina, a sophomore, is majoring in Communicative Disorders and Speech Pathology.

In between classes and ASO events, Lauren and Marina spend their time working at the Ararat Armenian Cemetery located in southwest Fresno. Their involvement at the cemetery began as a project Marina created in order to earn the “Gold Award,” the highest honor awarded in Girl Scouts. The project, titled “Honoring Our Veterans in the Ararat Cemetery,” was, according to Chardukian, to “identify the graves of our Veterans, so they can be honored and easily recognized at this cemetery.” Marina sent out 1,500 letters to families connected with the cemetery asking for donations and information on Veterans. As a result of Marina’s work, letters containing information and donations flooded the cemetery, which resulted in the placement of the permanent metal flag emblems on 200 cornerstones.

While the initial project that brought the sisters to the cemetery has now ended, Lauren and Marina were hired as part-time staff and continue to work on projects serving the community. They are currently working on building a database that will track the names and specific burial sites of all the deceased at the cemetery. The sisters hope their work will make it easier for families to locate their loved ones and to simultaneously keep an accurate record of all those who are buried.

Working at the cemetery has exposed Lauren and Marina to Fresno’s rich history and Armenian roots, which they did not know about prior to their involvement at the cemetery. “At the cemetery you see the graves of all the important people that lived in Fresno,” stated Lauren Chardukian. “We are the next generation and we have a responsibility, by living in this area, to maintain the history and traditions and to be involved in the community.”

The Chardukian sisters have a bright future ahead of them. Both are very committed to serving the community and hope to continue having a positive impact.