August 30 Victory Day, marked nationwide with enthusiastic ceremonies

August 30 Victory Day, marking the 87th anniversary of the Battle of Dumlupinar, the final battle between Turkish and Greek armies during the 1922 Turkish War of Independence in the Aegean province of Kutahya, paving the way for the establishment of the Republic of Turkey one year later, was celebrated nationwide yesterday, including in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and at Turkish embassies around the world, with enthusiastic and spectacular ceremonies and parades. The Turkish General Staff placed special emphasis on this year’s celebrations, participating more broadly and comprehensively than in past years under the motto, "A Powerful Army, a Powerful Turkey." The commemorations focused on the contributions of both modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and those of ordinary soldiers in the landmark victory 87 years ago. The celebrations began with a visit to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk. Led by Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, army members flocked to the mausoleum to show their appreciation and respect to Ataturk, who led the Turkish army to victory as the commander in chief during the War of Independence, and to reiterate their deep loyalty to the Republic of Turkey. Attending the ceremony were Land Forces Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner, Naval Forces Commander Gen. Esref Ugur Yigit, Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Aksay, Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Atila Isik, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Aslan Guner, and other army members. Basbug laid a wreath of red and white carnations in front of Ataturk's tomb, followed by a minute of silence and the singing of the national anthem. Signing the official Anitkabir memorial guestbook at the Misak-ı Milli (National Pact) Tower, Basbug wrote, "Great Ataturk, we stand before you with pride on the 87th anniversary of Victory Day. That was an unprecedented battle, laying the groundwork for the Republic of Turkey. Everyone who today lives under the roof of an independent state owes much to that day. The fundamental principles of the republic you founded, its national and territorial integrity, and the love for Ataturk in the hearts of the Turkish nation will live forever. May you rest in peace." An official ceremony was later held at the General Staff headquarters in Ankara followed by a parade at the Ataturk Cultural Center near Ulus. High-level state, government, judiciary and military officials, including President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Basbug, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic, observed the parade, which ended with a performance by the Turkish Air Force's acrobatic team, the Turkish Stars. Many guests, including representatives of foreign missions in Ankara, and many local people and people from across Turkey who came to Ankara to witness the ceremonies, watched the parade as well. This year’s events were larger than they had been in the past, with some 8,881 military personnel taking part in organizing the celebrations, compared to 4,512 in previous years. A giant Turkish flag was carried by 660 soldiers, and all flag officers of the army were present at the celebration, in which the number of officials charged with organizing the events and the mechanized vehicles had been doubled. Asked about the huge interest shown in the celebrations afterwards, Basbug said, "The Turkish nation has always had interest in the Turkish Armed Forces. The army and the nation came together here and there was huge enthusiasm." Başbug also hosted an evening reception marking the 1922 victory. For the first time, in addition to state officials and military personnel, some citizens, including veterans and the relatives of fallen soldiers, artists and businessmen were invited to this year’s reception. Similar ceremonies marking Victory Day were held across the country, including ones in Istanbul, Izmir, Diyarbakir and Adana, as well as in the TRNC.