May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day Ceremony was Held

For the occasion of the May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, the " May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day" ceremony was held in our Reyhan Conference Hall on May 18, 2022 with the participation of our students, academic and administrative staff.

The ceremony started with a minute of silence in memory of the founder of our Republic, Great Leader Atatürk and all our martyrs, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.

Delivering her speech on the meaning and importance of the day in the program, Faculty of Education Member Assoc. Prof Ebru Kuşçu drew attention to the fact that our national struggle, initiated by Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, by setting off from Samsun on May 19, 1919, is one of the important turning points in Turkish history. “May 19 is the youth, and youth means posterity.Turkish youth is the guardian of the Turkish Independence and the Turkish Republic, they are the greatest assurance of today and tomorrow.”

“The Future of our Country is Entrusted to the Youth”

Ebru Kuşcu said, “Almost every part of the country was occupied according to the provisions of the Armistice of Mudros, the armies were demobilized, their weapons were confiscated, in short, Mustafa Kemal, who embarked on the struggle with a handful of nationalist and patriotic friends, in the harsh and negative conditions.He gave us the message that "the nation can be saved with its own determination and dedication" from Samsun.

This message has become the symbol of the will of the Turkish nation to live. While the British were inspecting the Bandırma Ferry off the Maiden's Tower, before they left Istanbul, he said to his colleagues; “They think we are taking weapons and ammunition to Anatolia. They do not know that we are taking our hearts, brains and ideals to Anatolia.” He showed what kind of a man of faith he was."

This is why 19 May 1919 is not the day Atatürk brought arms and ammunition to Anatolia on the Bandırma Ferry; It is the day he brought the spirit of freedom, independence and national struggle together with brave and determined people in Anatolia. In that case, we can prove our loyalty to Mustafa Kemal, who entrusted our homeland, which was won under such difficult conditions, to the young people he wholeheartedly believed in and trusted, by understanding him correctly and by keeping the Republic of Turkey, which he called "my greatest work", alive forever.

The ceremony ended after the waltz and hip-hop dance performances of the Dance and Plan Biruni Ensemble.