HMEM hymn and motto in translation

Vaհe H Apelian

 

My brother and I as HMEM scouts, my father wearing HMEM pin,
the HMEM membership card my father kept to the end.

Nine hundred scouts from 26 countries have arrived to Armenia for the HMEM’s 13^thPanagoum in Armenia. I was reminded of my father, the HMEM insignia he wore, HMEM’s hymn and HMEM’s motto.

My father kept his HMEM membership card until the very end. He was the 88^th member of the HMEM in Beirut. My brother and I were also scouts for a few years, until we left the neighberhood. 

 HMEM’s unique motto reads, “Elevate Yourself and Elevate Others”, but said in two words in Armenian, «Բարձրացի՛ր եւ Բարձրացու՛ր»։

Its hymnal is no less profound.  The lyrics was written by Kevork Garavarents  (Գէորգ Կառվարենց), 1882-1946. The music was composed by Parsegh Ganachian (Բարսեղ Կանաչեան), 1885 – 1967.

As an added note, Kevork Garavarents was the father of the French-Armenian composer Georges Garvarentz who married Charles Aznavour's sister, Aïda Aznavour, in 1965. 

Georges Garvarentz (1932–1993) was a prolific composer who wrote over 150 film scores and co-wrote more than 100 songs with and for Charles Aznavour. Aïda and Georges were married at the Armenian Cathedral in Paris, and he remained a key musical partner to her brother.

Attached is my translation of the HMEM hymnal.

Original	Translation
Յառա՜ջ, նահատակ ցեղիանմահներ,	Onward! O immortals of martyred nation,
Վեց դարու անմոռ վրէժիզրահներ,	Armors forged from six centuries of unforgotten revenge,
Կատարն հայրենի լերանցհեռագոյն,	To the highest peak of our fartest mountains,
Երթանք կոթողել դրօշակն եռագոյն:	Let us raise  the tricolor flag.
Հսկայ նուիրման Տորմիղհրաթեւ, Կամաւոր բանակ,	Mighty fleet, Great devotion, Volunteer army,
Յառա՜ջ, յառաջ անսասան,	Onward! Onward! Unshaken,
Յառա՜ջ անդեդեւ	Onward! Unwavering,
Դէպի յաղթանակ, յաղթանակ:	Towards victory, victory!
Վատին սեւ արիւն մեր հողնոռոգեց,	Evil’s black blood irrigated  our soil;
Տարագիր հայն իր կեանքընորոգեց,	The exiled Armenian renewed his life.
Երէկ՝ շղթայուած, այսօր՝ինքնավար,	Yesterday in chains, today  self-governing,
Յարեալ վեհօրէն դամբանէնխաւար:	Risen majestically from the dark tomb.
Հսկայ նուիրման Տորմիղհրաթեւ,	Mighty fleet, Great devotion,
Կամաւոր բանակ,	Volunteer army,
Յառա՜ջ, յառաջ անսասան,	Onward! Onward! Unshaken,
Յառա՜ջ անդեդեւ	Onward! Unwavering
Դէպի յաղթանակ, յաղթանակ	Towards victory, victory!