Family and friends commemorated the anniversary of Private Danny Chen's death at a vigil Wednesday.

His mother held back tears as she spoke about her son through an interpreter during a vigil in Union Square.

Hundreds came out to remember the Manhattan native, who committed suicide last year after he was hazed by fellow soldiers in Afghanistan.

His mother said she hopes her son's death inspires the military to stop hazing in its ranks.

"It's really moving," said Ada Chen, Danny Chen's cousin. "I honestly didn't expect this many people and it was very touching to know that people actually care."

"It's of great importance not only to get justice for Danny but for all our brothers, sisters, neighbors, classmates who may be in the Army now," said Elizabeth OuYang, the president of the New York chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans.

Five soldiers have been convicted for their part in abusing Chen.

Some elected officials are pushing to add an anti-hazing statute in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.