May 19 Youth and Sports Day Celebrated nationwide with joyful ceremonies
May 19, Ataturk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day, which marks the 90th anniversary of the day Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, landed in the Black Sea province of Samsun to launch the struggle for national independence, was celebrated with major ceremonies across Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday. The first official ceremony to mark the day was held at Anitkabir (Ataturk's mausoleum) in Ankara. Headed by President Abdullah Gul, high-level state officials and politicians, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli and members of the Cabinet, attended this ceremony. President Gul laid a wreath at Ataturk's tomb, and later observed a minute of silence along with those in attendance, followed by the singing of the national anthem. Signing the Anitkabir's memorial guestbook at the Misak-ı Milli (National Pact) Tower, Gul wrote: “Great Ataturk, we stand before you with pride and joy on the 90th anniversary of your setting foot in Samsun for the first time at the start of our struggle for independence. We have no doubt that the young generation will work to carry our country to new horizons in the race of civilization with the sense of responsibility it inherited from older generations. The achievements and successes of our republic will continue to empower our nation and state. Turkish youth are determined to further strengthen the republic you founded with great sacrifice. This determination will be passed on to other generations, and the Republic of Turkey, a democratic, secular, and social state ruled by law, will exist forever.” In his writing, Gul also stressed that the Turkish youth, with their firm determination and deep love for their nation, would bring the Republic of Turkey to reach ideals set forth by Ataturk 90 years ago. Also many people from throughout the country visited Anitkabir all day long, decorating Ataturk's tomb with flowers. Ceremonies continued at Ankara's 19 Mayis Stadium, where youth groups and students performed dances and athletic activities following a parade of students, folk groups and persons with disabilities, as well as other youth groups. Similar ceremonies and stadium celebrations were also held in the country's major cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Manisa, Diyarbakir, Erzurum and Konya. Also Samsun hosted major celebrations to mark the day, which was also attended by Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan. Many deputies and military officials accompanied Toptan. In related news, both President Gul and Premier Erdogan received young people from across Turkey on the occasion of the 27th Youth Week yesterday, and gave them some advices, stressing that future Turkey would be shaped by today's young people. During his meeting with young people, Premier Erdogan called for more young participation in politics, urging political leaders to make room for younger politicians.