YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The History Department of Yerevan State University commemorated Saturday the 50th anniversary of Drastamat Kanayan’s (Dro) death.
The event was organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Nigol Aghbalian Student Union to celebrate the life of Kanayan–Defense Minister of the First Armenian Republic and a national hero.
"Dro has taught us to love the homeland–develop our future–and to instill patriotism in new generations," said Hayk Avetisian–dean of the History Department.
Vahan Hovhannisian–ARF Bureau member and Parliament Vice-Speaker–said that Dro went beyond a fedayee and helped create a state–becoming the defense minister of the First Republic.
"A nation that has no national hero is sentenced to assimilation and death," Hovhannisian said.