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"Since the 1920s April 24th is the day Armenians commemorate the victims of Armenian Genocide, the most tragic element of Armenian history. 
On April 24, 1915 hundreds Armenian Intellectuals: poets, musicians, publicists, editors, lawyers, doctors, deputies, were arrested in Constantinople under warrants issued by the Turkish authorities. They were all sent into exile and were horrifically slaughtered. The annihilation of the Armenian Intellectuals was the part of a systematic, fiendish plan to exterminate the Armenian people in their homeland. It was the first state-planned Genocide of the 20th century.
On April 24, 1965 Soviet Armenians organized rallied to demand the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, thus, breaking an era of silence that was created during the Soviet rule regarding this issue.
A mourning procession of hundred thousands Armenians, which includes local Armenians as well as Diasporans, begins in a silent march that moves to the Armenian Genocide Memorial every year on April 24. As each mourner brings flowers to place around the eternal fire, a sea of flowers can be seen encircling the area creating a solemn visual impact."

Source: The Armenian Genocide Museum Foundation