Armenian fighting force recruited local residents; Exhibit recalls legion's heroism during WWI.

Byline: Susan Spencer

NORTHBRIDGE - Northbridge Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Charles Ampagoomian Jr. grew up hearing stories about his grandfather, Oscar Ampagoomian, who volunteered with the Armenian Legion to serve in the Middle East during World War I. When the Watertown-based Armenian Library and Museum of America premiered its traveling exhibit on the Armenian Legionnaires, Mr. Ampagoomian was enthralled by what he saw.

"I said `Wow!'" Mr. Ampagoomian said, explaining that the photos, maps and documents highlight Armenian history, which has often been suppressed and still is denied in parts of the world, such as Turkey.

The exhibit, which opened Aug. 31, runs through Sept. 22 at Northbridge Town Hall.

"It shows the fact that regardless of whether you were born here or overseas, you went back to protect the country," he said.

Christie L. Hardiman, public relations coordinator for the Armenian Library and Museum of America, said, "The exhibit explores many aspects of the Armenian Legion, the incredible battles that they fought, the triumphs they had. It tells the story of these incredible individuals."

Through roughly two dozen panels with photos and narrative, "Legion Armenienne: The Armenian Legion and its Heroism in the Middle East" chronicles the overlooked history of the Armenian volunteers, who served with British and French troops and, according to the exhibit, were a major force that broke the Turko-German combined front at Palestine, signaling the beginning of the collapse of Ottoman Empire (after four centuries of rule) and the victory of the Allies.

The Legion was formed in 1916 with a core of 500 men from Musa Dagh, an Armenian village in Turkey. In 1916-17, 1,200 men from the United States were recruited to join the effort, including several from Northbridge. The Legion was dissolved in 1920.

The military rally was particularly significant, the exhibit explains, because it occurred as Armenians were facing the aftermath of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government. Between 1 and 1-1/2 million Armenians, who were Christian, died as the result of government action by the Muslim-majority Ottoman Empire (now the Republic of Turkey) between 1896 and 1915.

Many Armenian survivors fled to the United States, settling to work in the mills of Watertown, Whitinsville and Worcester, among other communities. St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church in Whitinsville is one of 17 Armenian churches in Massachusetts and is the center of an active Armenian-American population.

Arakel Almasian, assistant treasurer and Executive Committee member of the Armenian Library and Museum of America, was one of the traveling exhibit's organizers. "I grew up in Whitinsville, so I thought it should start out there," he said. "You'll see a bunch of people from Whitinsville in it."

Museums in Germany, France and the Smithsonian Institution have expressed interest in its historical collection, Mr. Almasian said.

Ms. Hardiman said the traveling exhibit, which moves next to California, includes photos donated by the Armenian-American community and articles from the archives at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

"It's not well known, but it's an important piece of the history," Ms. Hardiman said.

The exhibit can be viewed in Northbridge Town Hall's Great Hall during regular hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. A public reception was held Sept. 14.

The traveling exhibit was funded by a grant from the K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, M.D. Foundation with additional support from the Armenian-American Veterans of Milford.

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: SUSAN SPENCER

CUTLINE: (1) Alice R. Benson of Sutton views part of the Armenian Legion exhibit at Northbridge Town Hall. She said the exhibit reminded her of her Armenian grandparents, Pilibos and Arshalouys Bedigian. (2) Armenian Legionnaires from the United States pose with an American flag. (3) Overview of the exhibit in the Great Hall at Northbridge Town Hall.