The fire for the first torch was brought on a white armored personnel carrier, and the torchlight procession began its annual march to the Armenian Genocide Memorial.

Armenian clerics, with a huge cross above their heads, were in the front of the procession that was accompanied by drums beating. Tens of thousands of young people carried hundreds of national flags alongside a 30-meter long Armenian tricolor, sang patriotic songs and chanted "recognition."

After their arrival at the Memorial, a group of singers, including American Daniel Decker, German Kye Augaten, Bulgarian Tsvetan Tsvetkov, Finnish Inka and Moldavian Vitali Dani, sang the song "Adana," written by Decker, in 8 languages.