Erdoğan writes about 3rd bridge in Special Notebook of Anıtkabir in his Victory Day message
Official August 30th Victory Day ceremonies were held today in Anıtkabir with the attendance of President Erdoğan and top state officials. As part of the ceremony, Erdoğan wrote his message in the Special Notebook of Anıtkabir. Part of President’s message read as:
“Today, we are commemorating the Big Victory on its 94th anniversary with honor... Without minding the malicious attacks of terrorist organizations and by defeating the gangs of traitors, we continue on our fight for our future. The Osman Gazi Bridges and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bride, which we have brought to life this year, are manifestations of our ambition. And, the willpower of our people, which was demonstrated on the night of July 15, is our greatest anchor. We are going to continue protecting and growing this homeland at the cost our lives.”
***
Victory Day in Turkey
In the history of Turkish Republic, August 30th is marked as the day of complete victory over the allied forces that had occupied Turkey – then, Ottoman Empire – after the WWI. 30 August 1922 signifies the day when the Battle of Dumlupınar was won against Greek forces during the Turkish Independence War and it is recognized as the end of the Independence War with victory for the Turkish Republic, which was officially established a year after on 29 October 1923.
Since 1935, Victory Day (also referred to as the Armed Forces Day) has been celebrated all throughout the country as a national holiday, where state officials and the public hold ceremonies commemorating the founder of the Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the people and soldiers who took part in the Independence War.
While ceremonies and marches of Turkish Armed Forces, as well as, Turkish Air Forces, are usually held as part of the Victory Day ceremonies, this year’s ceremonies are held with restrictions and under high security measures, due to the current state of affairs.
Earlier at the beginning of August, National Defense Minister Fikri Işık had stated that because of the ‘state of emergency that the country was going through, the ceremonies of Victory Day were not going to be held this year.’