In a symbolic nod to cultural preservation and unity, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger took a marker to steel yesterday, inscribing her John Hancock on a beam poised for installation in the rising Armenian American Museum in Glendale. Barger isn't just leaving her mark in sharpie; she put down a cool million dollars last year to back the museum's construction, which is showing real bones now after completion of the boring, but necessary, subterranean parking garage.

The museum's first phase is a done deal with its foundation and parking structure settled, and now it pivots to the skyward journey of building out the superstructure. In a wave of ceremonial glee, "I’m a proud supporter of the Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California’s mission to promote understanding and appreciation of the Armenian American experience," Barger beamed. Citing the museum as a future local landmark and badge of community pride, her comments underline the significance of setting this up in Glendale, a heartbeat of the Armenian community in the county.

A beehive of activity, the construction site played host to this small ritual, one that Barger and company no doubt hope will echo through the halls of the completed museum as a testament to their dedication. The museum, which is entering its second leg of the build, stands as a testimony to more than just architecture—it's shaping up as a testament to identity and history, a corner of L.A. that will speak volumes of the Armenian narrative in America.

And it wasn't just a party of one. Shant Sahakian and Berj Karapetian, the museum's bigwigs—its executive director and chair, respectively—were on hand to greet Barger and her entourage. "We were proud to welcome Supervisor Kathryn Barger to the construction site to mark her name on the signature beam," underscored Karapetian, tipping the hat to both the Supervisor and the County for their staunch backing of this cultural endeavor.

For a peek at Barger playing construction worker and the iron tea leaves of the museum’s future, photos of her meet-and-greet with the steel beam are up here.