Winter’s snow,
ice, wind, and bitter cold would not stop a group of truehearted Assyrians
from partaking in what has now become the second annual event, of visiting
the gravesite of the great Malfono Naoum Fayiq (February 1863 – February
5, 1930), on Sunday February 2, 2003 in New Jersey.
For those of you who could not have made it or did not know about it, no
worries, there is always next year. Ninos Donabed of Milton, MA, said “We
hope that by coming this year, we can make this an annual event for all
Assyrians in the area and around the country to join in.” Naoum Fayiq is
what many Assyrians like to call “The Father of Assyrian Nationalism”, and
celebrating his memory is a major reminder that the flaming torch of
Assyrianism, has been passed to a new generation. Broula Adde of Long
Island, NY said, “It is great to see a new generation of Assyrians getting
together, commemorating a great person of the older generation.”
The nine men and women (a drastic size decrease from last year, due to
weather and family circumstances) gathered around Naoum’s grave with an
Assyrian flag. One person even took off his scarf, which had on it the
Assyrian star of the Assyrian soccer team of Sweden “Assyriska FF”, and
wrapped it around the tombstone along with a bouquet of a dozen beautiful
flowers. The group then joined together in a prayer, and a moment of
silence. To make things a little more exciting, they then began to sing
classical Assyrian songs, such as Ho Dokrinan, Beth Nahrin Romath Men Kul,
and Beth Nahrain Atriwat. Ho Dokrinan, was written in memory of Naoum
Fayiq by the late Malfono Youhanon Qashisho, and the song had become the
Assyrian National Anthem at one time. Simon Stifo of Worcester, MA, said,
“I always wanted to see the gravesite of Naoum Fayiq, because in my
hometown of Qamishly Syria, we would always hear how great of a leader he
was for our people.” After that, a prayer was also said for the memory of
the Assyrian nationalist, Senharib Balley whose grave is literally a few
steps away from Naoum Fayiq’s grave who was his friend and compatriot.
It is a good thing the winds of Jersey City did not blow any of the people
away that day, but one thing is for sure, their hardship, ambition, faith,
and dedication to their Assyrian Nation should blow anyone away. It is
going to take a lot more than tough times for these Assyrian members to
lose hope in the struggle, and I am sure Naoum Fayiq would say the same.