Hundreds gathered in New York’s Times Square to mark the 109th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

The Knights and Daughters of Vartan have sponsored the Times Square Armenian Genocide commemoration since 1985, along with the support of a multitude of Armenian American community organizations.

“Your presence shows that year after year you honor the memory of your ancestors whose lives were brutally cut short by the Ottoman Empire a century ago,” said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “I’m always inspired to see you here as a living, resilient witness to the tragedy and moral outrage of the Armenian Genocide.”

Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, delivered the invocation, and Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, who represented Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, delivered the benediction.