Keçiören Municipality organized a commemoration program at the 18 July Martyrs' Monument in the district on the occasion of the 108th anniversary of the 15 March Çanakkale Victory.
AK Party Ankara Deputy Zeynep Yıldız, Keçiören Mayor Turgut Altınok, Turkey Veterans and Martyrs Families Chairman Lokman Aylar, AK Party Keçiören District President Zafer Çoktan, Nationalist Movement Party Keçiören District President Arif Aksu, veterans and citizens attended the program.
The commemoration program, which started with the National Anthem and a moment of silence, continued with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
Speaking to the participants in the program, Keçiören Mayor Turgut Altınok said, “It is the 108th anniversary of the Çanakkale Martyrs and Çanakkale Victory, but it is also our 18 March Martyrs' Day. Today is the day of our heroes who carried our homeland, nation, state and country to these days and gave their lives.” said.
Stating that the Turkish nation has an ancient history and culture, Altınok continued his speech as follows:
“We are the family and children of a great civilization that has brought right, justice and civilization to the world. The First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire with British policy were in question, however, every part of our country was occupied. Istanbul was occupied, the sultan was taken hostage and an edict was issued. It is said that we will become a British mandate. It is said that all state institutions will enter the British mandate. Of course, a young officer, Atatürk, says, 'The Turkish nation does not accept mandate, captivity. He says either independence or death. The National Struggle has spread all over our country in waves, and everyone, regardless of whether they are children, young or old, has written epics. They ask Atatürk to what do you owe this success, he says, 'We owe it to the faith and courage of the Turkish nation'. Our martyrs and veterans gave us this homeland.”
Altınok, who also gave a message to those who mean the unity and solidarity of the state, said, "If you cooperate with traitors when there are so many martyrs, these martyrs and veterans will hit you. Those who share the table with the traitor, those who sit at the table, and those who stand side by side with the murderer of so many of our martyrs, are on the same side as the traitors, your ranks are the same. It's the same place where you get instructions. The Turkish nation will not forgive this either. I wish God's mercy to our martyrs, veterans and all our heroes, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic. I commemorate our martyrs of Çanakkale and our martyrs of July 15 with mercy and gratitude.” he said.
AK Party Ankara Deputy Zeynep Yıldız said: "We have mercy on all our soldiers, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who had a great command genius who, as Mehmet Akif said, "dispelled those who attacked a small land with their navy, with the power of faith". and gratefully remembered. May Allah perpetuate the unity and well-being of the Turkish nation.” said.
Sugar-free compote and wheat bread were served to the participants in the program. Then, carnations were left on the 15 July Martyrs' Monument accompanied by prayers.