By Harout Kassabian
YEREVAN—Armenians from around the world converged at Yerevan’s Republic Square late in the evening of April 24 to march through the city center in a torch-lit procession to commemorate the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide.
Hundreds of thousands marched, many with torches, banners, and flags. They headed to the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Dzidernagapert to lay flowers at the eternal flame.
A scene from the march (photo: Harout Kassabian)
The procession was led by the flags of the 23 countries that have recognized the genocide, followed by a sea of torches held by members of the Armenian Youth Federation and Homenetmen Scouts.
Many in the crowd shouted chants and sang patriotic songs such as “Tsayn muh Hnchets” as they ascended to the hill-top memorial. Participants visiting the country from abroad waved the flags of their home countries, such as Greece, Canada, U.S., and Lebanon.
The police were well-organized and effectively managed the procession to allow everyone the opportunity to enter the memorial.
Participants laid flowers at the eternal flame in the memorial, a mound that had reached over 6 feet tall by the end of the evening. With so many participating in the march, the last group of people did not reach the memorial monument until 3 a.m.
Flowers placed around the eternal flame reached over 6 feet tall by the end of the evening (photo: Harout Kassabian)
A scene from the march (photo: Harout Kassabian)
A scene from the march (photo: Harout Kassabian)
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