Incirlik celebrates Ataturk Memorial Day

  • Published
  • By Mehmet Birbiri
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs host nation advisor
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Members of the Incirlik community paid tribute to the father of the modern Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a nation-wide memorial service Nov. 10.

During this day, which marked the 71st anniversary of Ataturk's death, the entire country observed two minutes beginning at 9:05 a.m. to mark the moment of his death. All vehicles and pedestrians came to a complete stop.

The moment was announced by blowing sirens, car horns, train, ship and factory whistles. Flags were lowered to half-staff and the national anthem was played at ceremonies in schools, military units, government offices and factories.

Programs on Ataturk's life and accomplishments were broadcasted by the Turkish media all day.

Ataturk, founder and first president of the modern Republic of Turkey, was born in 1881 in Salonica, Greece, then part of the Ottoman Empire. He was young when his father, Ali Riza died; his mother, Zubeyde, had to leave Salonica and move to her brother's farm.

Instead of attending school, Ataturk worked on the farm, while his mother worried about his lack of schooling. Eventually, he returned to Salonica for junior high school and later he successfully took the military school entrance exams in 1893 without telling his mother.

Once in military school, Mustafa developed a special interest in mathematics and he attempted to solve problems well advanced of those taught in class.

One day the teacher said to him, "Look here my son. Your name is Mustafa, so is mine. We can't let things go on like this. There must be some distinction between us. I suggest you call yourself Mustafa Kemal from now on."

He did; Kemal means perfection.

Mustafa Kemal entered the military academy in 1899. He graduated from General Staff College as a captain in 1905 and was assigned to the 5th Army in Syria. There he saw the disorganization of the army and civilian administration and realized something must be done to save the country.

In 1909, when a mutiny broke out in Istanbul, Mustafa Kemal was an army officer who helped suppress the reactionaries. That same year, Italy attacked Libya, then a part of the Ottoman Empire, but Mustafa Kemal assumed the duty of organizing the local people against the invaders.

He went from one battle to another. During World War I, the Ottomans joined the war on Germany's side, fighting against the British, French, Italians and Russians. Mustafa Kemal's defeat of the British armada at Gallipoli made him a hero. In 1915, he was in Diyarbakir and stemmed the Russian advance. In 1916, he fought in southern Palestine.

Being on the losing side, the Ottoman armies were disarmed and dispersed. Adana, Maras, Antep and Urfa were occupied by the French; Konya and Antalya by the Italians; and Istanbul by the British. On May 15, 1919, Greeks landed at Izmir.

Mustafa Kemal went to unoccupied Samsun near the Black Sea May 19, 1919, and ignited the War of Independence. Wherever Mustafa Kemal went, everyone -- young and old, men and women, officers and civilians -- followed him as the savior of the country.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly opened April 23, 1920, under his chairmanship. A new army was formed and fought the occupying armies on all fronts. Three years of occupation finally ended with the defeat of all enemies under Mustafa Kemal's leadership.

The Lausanne Treaty was signed and gave full recognition and credit to the new state. On Oct. 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal proclaimed the new state of the modern Republic of Turkey and became its first president. Convinced that military victory was not sufficient, he felt the revolution had to be followed by profound economic, social and cultural reforms.

During his 15-year administration, the nation moved forward to western standards.

Mustafa Kemal established schools in every village and town and changed the Arabic alphabet to Latin. He separated religious affairs from state affairs and legal and modern reforms began. Women were granted equal rights and a completely new economic system was constructed and surnames were adopted.

In recognition of his efforts, Mustafa Kemal was given the last name Ataturk which means father of Turks.

In the short span of his life, this one man achieved the rebirth of a nation. He died in Istanbul Nov. 10, 1938, at age 57.

Today, he lives on in the minds and hearts of Turkish people. He represents a brave history, future and pride of Turkey.

The ceremony on the base was held in front of the Turkish Headquarters and was open to the entire base community.