Turkey on Friday remembered the fallen and celebrated the patriotic acts of thousands of martyrs who fought in the country's war for independence and other critical battles. Friday was Victory Day and the 97th anniversary of a decisive battle that drove out invading foreign forces in post-World War I Turkey, Daily Sabah reports.
In the capital Ankara, the country's leader and other dignitaries attended a string of remembrance events. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, top military brass and high-ranking officials started the day with a visit to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the Republic of Turkey after the War of Independence, which is commonly known as Büyük Taarruz or the Great War.
In a solemn ceremony, Erdoğan placed a wreath on the grave of Atatürk, who died 16 years after the critical war. Atatürk is credited with rescuing Turkey from the imminent invasion after the Ottoman Empire lost World War I and collapsed, and for rebuilding the country.
The president then penned a message on Anıtkabir's guestbook, a custom for the country's leaders every Victory Day. "Revered Atatürk, today, we are proud to mark the 97th anniversary of the great victory. We remember your excellency, our commanders, officers, soldiers and every member of our nation who contributed to the great victory, a golden chapter in our history. We are determined to protect the republic, which is built upon the sacrifice of our revered martyrs and something you entrusted to us, with our lives. Our fierce struggle in Turkey and outside our borders against threats targeting our national existence is the indication of our resolve. No force will succeed in preventing us from reaching our 2023 goals," Erdoğan wrote, in reference to a set of developmental goals the government plans to accomplish by the centenary of foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
