Washington DC: The 86th anniversary of the passing of modern Trkiye’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was commemorated in the US on Sunday. The ceremony, held by the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, saw the participation of Turkish Ambassador Sedat Onal, embassy staff, and members of the Turkish community residing in the US.
According to Anadolu Agency, attendees observed two minutes of silence at 9.05 a.m. local time to mark the exact moment of Ataturk’s death at the age of 57, followed by the singing of the Turkish national anthem. Ambassador Onal remarked that Ataturk was a leader who dedicated his entire life to the Turkish nation. He noted that Ataturk’s distinguishing quality among his contemporaries was his adherence to the principles and vision he established.
The Turkish War of Independence began with Ataturk’s arrival in Samsun on the Black Sea coast in 1919. The liberation of Anatolia from occupation marked a new era in Turkish history, leading to the country’s recognition under the Treaty of La
usanne in 1923. Subsequently, on October 29, 1923, Ataturk declared the nation’s name and its status as a republic. Following a parliamentary vote in the Grand National Assembly, Ataturk was unanimously elected as the first president of the Republic of Trkiye. He served in this role until his death on November 10, 1938, in Istanbul.