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COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES FOR THE 108TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAND BATTLES OF ÇANAKKALE WERE HELD

23 April 2023 12:00

A ceremony was held at the Martyrs Monument, hosted by our Directorate, within the scope of the 108th anniversary of the Gallipoli Land Battles. At the ceremony, where the wreaths of other countries that had participated in the Gallipoli Battles were present, a wreath was laid at the Atatürk Monument by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ahmet Misbah DEMİRCAN, on behalf of the Republic of Turkey, followed by a moment of silence for all our martyrs, and then our National Anthem was sung. Protocol speeches stating the meaning and importance of the day were made by Historical Site Director İsmail Kaşdemir, United Kingdom Chief of General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders, and Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Ahmet Misbah Demircan. In his speech, Kaşdemir said, “Çanakkale is the name of the place where the steel castles hit the faithful breasts and rebounded, trying to march towards the heart of our state and nation, our sacred hearth, that is, Istanbul. Çanakkale is the place where flesh and bones won against steel, where the Turkish nation, who gave up its ordinary and simple life and turned into a relentless warrior when it came to its sacred ones, stood up and was reborn from the ashes. Çanakkale is the eternal resting place of those who gave up their lives so that today's generations can live, and those who lie without shrouds under these exceptional lands. Çanakkale Victories are the story of those who rushed to the borders of their homeland in difficult times and returned to their villages to their simple lives when the dark days passed, without expecting success or appreciation, and the architects of these victories had only one wish and testament; Long Live Our Homeland.… Forgetting; is to lose, to decrease. We will remember, we will remind... I commemorate with respect and mercy the heroic and victorious commander of Çanakkale, the Commander-in-Chief of our national struggle, the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades in arms, and our heroic Mehmetçik who made Çanakkale impassable, and I salute you with respect”. British Chief of General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, speaking on behalf of the Allied Powers participating in the war, said: "It is a privilege to be with all of you today to reflect the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought for the Gallipoli Peninsula 108 years ago... I recently read an article that I thought summarized Gallipoli very well; 'it passes the brain and winds its way towards the heart. [it] is part of the national mythology.' This is a historical and timeless place. The war has echoed throughout this time and still affects us. We owe a lot to those who gave their lives in this war. I will be forever grateful that we have learned, that we have become stronger and more collaborative, and that we can now stand together as friends and allies. I salute the memory of those who fought in Gallipoli and our future together. Thank you". Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ahmet Misbah Demircan, said in his speech: “There are many epics whose voices echo forever; There are many epics that remain unforgettable in the hearts of all nations. This is such an epic, written in Çanakkale exactly 108 years ago; Crying out to eternity that human beings are not just flesh and bones, but have a soul made entirely of love for their homeland. If this is the homeland in question, everything else is a detail; It is the land of those who extend the power they receive from their roots to the sky for the independence of their nation. I consider it our supreme duty to develop this work that they fought for, with the same noble behavior, and carry it into the future. I bow with respect to the precious memories of all the men who died on these lands and became our sons, and all our martyrs, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK and his comrades-in-arms, who have made Anatolia our homeland since Manzikert and watered these sacred lands with their holy blood, and I commemorate them with mercy”. After the protocol speeches, Quran was chanted and prayers were made for all our martyrs. After the Çanakkale Ballad recital and official parade, the Martyrs Memorial Book was signed. The ceremony ended after carnations were left at the martyrs' cemeteries.