The gubernatorial and mayoral grind of meetings, appearances, fund-raisers, and press
conferences occasionally gives way to the pomp and éclat of Boston tradition.
So it was Wednesday afternoon, as Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh
welcomed Serzh Sargsyan, the president of Armenia to the State House.
With an honor guard standing at attention on the warm spring day, Baker and Walsh walked
Sargsyan through the front gates of the 18th-century building, which are opened only on rare
occasions, such as the arrival of a foreign head of state. They trotted up a red carpet, past eight
dancers in traditional ethnic Armenian costumes, a slew of dignitaries including Attorney
General Maura Healey and Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, and toward the main door to the
historic building.
Baker jokingly thanked Sargsyan “for the beautiful weather we’re having today.” After the
governor’s words were translated, the Aremenian president let out a laugh.
Massachusetts has a considerable Armenian-American community, and scores of political and
religious leaders stood at attention as the Armenian and American flags and anthems were raised
and played.
Later, inside the governor’s formal office, Baker presented Sargsyan with a gurgling cod pitcher
wrapped in a box.
There appeared to some translation difficulties, and so, together, Baker and Armenia’s head of
state opened the box and took the bubblewrap off the aqua-colored pitcher, as Baker gave a short
explanation of the once-plentiful fish’s importance in Massachusetts.
Walsh then handed Sargsyan his own gift-wrapped box with a staccato explanation.
“And we’re a little more simpler in the city,” Walsh said looking at the translator. “This is a
bowl. A Paul Revere bowl.”
The president took the gift and shook the mayor’s hand.
The mayor vigorously shook Sargsyan’s hand and looked him in the eyes.
“Thank you,” Walsh said. “Congratulations.”
Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com.
Go to: https://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/715229039519272960
To see the raising of the Armenian Flag
