BOSTON: The Assyrian American National Federation will hold its 72nd Annual National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts this September. An estimated 5,000 convention participants will take part in educational, cultural and social activities that will be held from Thursday, September 1st to Monday, September 5th.

Each year the National Convention brings Assyrian Americans together to celebrate Assyrian heritage, social and cultural traditions. Convention activities include the Federation's annual meeting, evening banquet, and the annual picnic. Convention attendees will also be able to view a special Assyrian Document and Photo Exhibit being held during the month of September at the Boston Public Library entitled "Immigration And Adjustment: Assyrian Family Records"

Elias Hanna of Grafton, Massachusetts, a member of the National Federation since 1972, is this year's National Convention Chairman. This is only the second Assyrian American national convention ever held in Massachusetts, and the first since 1962. Concerning the upcoming convention, Mr. Hanna noted, "We are very pleased to be hosting this year's Assyrian American National Convention here in Massachusetts. The Federation got its start in nearby Worcester, Massachusetts in 1933. It's very important that Christian Assyrian Americans continue to recognize what earlier generations did to form the Federation. The National Convention is our way of celebrating and recognizing the heritage and culture of what it means to be an Assyrian-American."

Other convention activities include participation in an athletic tournament, a children's camp, and a fashion show. Scholarships will be awarded as part of the Youth Excellence Contest, and all participants can take part in the convention educational programs. Each evening there will be an opportunity for dancing to the music of Assyrian singers from all over the world. An Assyrian Folk Dance group from Armenia will be a special feature of the convention. A cruise ship ride on Boston Harbor, an historical tour of Boston and a World Champion Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park are also on the list of convention activities.

For registration information for the convention, visit the Assyrian American Federation web site at www.aanf.org or call the 72nd Annual Convention hotline at 773-743-4027. The official convention hotel is the Boston Sheraton Hotel, located in the heart of Boston adjacent to the Prudential Center and Copley Place Mall, with over 200 shops and restaurants accessible via an indoor walkway.

The Assyrian National Federation was formed as a result of Assyrian American reaction to the August 7th, 1933 massacres of Assyrians living in Iraq. The first meeting leading to the establishment of the Federation was held at 19 Preston Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. On October 19, 1933, an Assyrian American National Emergency Committee called a General Meeting at West New York, New Jersey. A General Convention of Delegates was held on November 19, 1933 at New Britain, Connecticut, where the constitution and Bylaws of the Federation were adopted. In 1982 the present name of the Assyrian American National Federation, Inc. was adopted. The Assyrian American National Federation, Inc., is made up of thirty-seven charitable, educational and fraternal organizations that represent approximately 350,000 Assyrian Americans.

Assyrian American National Convention Chairman and Media Contact: Elias Hanna 58 Brigham Hill Road Grafton, MA. 01519 eliasi @aol.com 508-735-0192 or 508-839-9416