San Francisco Bay Area Honors 110th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
SAN FRANCISCO — On Thursday, April 24, the San Francisco Bay Area Armenian community gathered in solidarity at the majestic Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Hundreds of attendees filled the Catholic cathedral to honor the memory of the 1.5 million souls lost and to renew their commitment to justice and remembrance.
Scouts carrying flags (photo Talar Andonian)
The evening opened with a flag ceremony presented by the Homenetmen Scouts, followed by the national anthems of the United States.
Maria Sarkisian, founder of Miaseen.org, warmly welcomed the crowd and shared an audio clip by Ruben Vardanyan, the former Artsakh state minister who remains unjustly imprisoned by Azerbaijan, along with 15 other Artsakh officials.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie presents a proclamation declaring April 24, 2025, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (photo Talar Andonian)
The newly elected mayor of San Francisco, Daniel Lurie, addressed the gathering, reassuring the Armenian community that “We stand together,” and affirming the city’s unwavering support for a people who have greatly enriched the fabric of San Francisco through the decades. Remarks were also delivered by California State Senator Scott Wiener and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, and a video message from California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Keynote speaker Armen Hovannisian, Esq. (photo Talar Andonian)
ARF Western Region Central committee member Armen Hovannisian, Esq., delivered the keynote address, intertwining personal stories of his family’s survival during the Genocide.
Youth leaders from the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYO) groups from St. John Armenian Church and St. Vartan Armenian Church, and the University of California Berkeley Armenian Students Association spoke vowing never to forget and pledging to continue the fight for truth and justice.
Throughout the evening, the audience was moved by musical performances by local artists. The program concluded with prayers offered by the Bay Area Armenian clergy for the canonized martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
That evening, San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and the historic Mt. Davidson Cross were all illuminated in the colors of the Armenian flag, in honor of this solemn day.
