[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO MARO KECHICHIAN 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE 
                               YEAR--2011

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2011

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in Honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments made by 
our nation's most distinguished women during the month of March.
  Today, I rise to commend Maro Kechichian of Burbank, whose tireless 
efforts have benefited her community and beyond. Ms. Kechichian was 
born and raised in Lebanon, where she received her early education and 
simultaneously became an active member of the Zavarian Student 
Association. With a passion for learning, Maro pursued a higher 
education, and received a Bachelor's Degree in Armenian Literature from 
St. Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon. Prior to moving to the United 
States, Maro taught at Aksor Kassardjian, an Armenian school in a 
predominantly Armenian suburb of Beirut. She proved to be a valuable 
asset to the school, and was promoted to Director--a position she held 
for eight years.
  Maro immigrated to the United States in 1984 and joined Homenetmen's 
Los Angeles Chapter, where she is an active member. She has served as a 
board member of Homenetmen Western Regional Executive Committee as a 
secretary for six terms. As a professional, she is a trusted team 
member who helps organize regional and international events, including 
the renowned annual Navasartian Games of Southern California.
  Ms. Kechichian is a dedicated participant in all her endeavors and 
she brings a dynamic energy to all her activities. Maro has been 
elected as a Regional Executive member for Homenetmen numerous times. 
Her expertise with issues related to Homenetmen leads her to take 
frequent part in its Central meetings. These meetings take place every 
four years, and allow Homenetmen leaders from around the world to 
gather and plan upcoming nationwide activities. It is also noteworthy 
that Maro was a reporter for Asbarez Armenian Daily Newspaper for 20 
years, and covered news from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
  In 1990, Maro was appointed to a special project aimed at 
establishing a Homenetmen region in Armenia. She stayed in Armenia for 
three months and was solely committed to this effort. Ever since then, 
Maro not only continues supporting the region she visited, but also 
extends a helping hand to Nagorno-Karabakh.
  Currently, Maro serves as an Executive Secretary at the Armenian 
Relief Society, ARS, of the Western Region, and is an advisor for 
Homenetmen's Los Angeles Chapter. She is also an active volunteer, and 
spends numerous hours helping Armenian Relief Society's Araz chapter 
and various fundraising committees.
  I ask all Members to join me in honoring a remarkable woman of the 
29th Congressional District, Maro Kechichian, for her exceptional 
service to the community.

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