Monte Melkonian Fund

Monte Melkonian was born in California’s San Joaquin Valley on November 25, 1957. A trained archaeologist who spoke eight languages, he spent his entire adult life working for justice and defending Armenians in Iran, Lebanon, and Armenia. Monte is widely acknowledged to be one of the individuals most responsible for re-forging Nagorno Karabagh’s fighters into a disciplined force that defended the land against overwhelming odds. After his death in battle on June 12, 1993, the president of the Republic of Armenia declared him a National Hero, and he was awarded the highest military honors of Nagorno Karabagh and the Republic of Armenia, including the Military Cross, First Degree and the Golden Eagle medal.

In a published interview, General Hemayag Haroyan of the Armenian Defense Ministry recalled a question that a journalist put to Monte: How do you see Armenia’s future? “One might have thought that he would have responded ‘victorious’ or ‘with secure borders,’” the General reported.

“But no. He responded: ‘Without corruption and just.'

This is a vision of Armenia that many of us share. Until it is realized, however, there is much we can do.

For Quotes from Monte Melkonian Click Here

Monument to Monte "Avo" Melkonian in the town of Martuni/Monteapert, Nagorno Karabagh.