YEREVAN. – A photo exhibition “Along the Trails of the Armenian Orphans” will open in Yerevan at the imitative of Naregatsi Art Institute and with the support of the Near East Relief and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

“Along the Trails of the Armenian Orphans” exhibition opening in Armenia is a tragic but wonderful U.S.-Armenia story, Ambassador John Heffern said during the Friday press conference dedicated to the exhibition.

He first of all thanked Nareg Hartounian, founder of Naregatsi Art Institute, and Chairman of Near East Relief Shant Mardirossian for their support and contribution to organizing the exhibition.

“This demonstrates that the best combination of generosity of the American people combined with the resilience of the Armenian people saved the Armenians,” he said.

This is the first chapter in the development of our very close people-to-people ties.

“It is also very historic because this private effort, with some government support, but a private effort was the first large-scale U.S. international humanitarian effort,” he said.

The Ambassador stressed that 1.5 Armenians were massacred and marched to the death at the end of the Ottoman Empire.

“The American people responded with compassion and generosity to this disaster. Nationwide fundraising effort was launched and as a result thousands of Armenian orphans were rescued,” Ambassador said.

The opening is planned for May 25 in the National Gallery of Armenia. Similar exhibitions will open in Naregatsi Art Institute and “Trchunyan Tun” orphanage in Gyumri on May 26.