“March for the Martyrs on March 18” organized by Ondokuz Mayıs University to remember the sacred memory of our martyrs and to carry on the spirit of Çanakkale on the occasion of the 103rd anniversary of the 18 March Çanakkale Victory and Martyrs' Day materialized with the broad participation of Samsuners and the Protocol of Samsun. Streets of Samsun were red and white with the star and crescent flags during the march where a crowd of 10 thousand strong has gathered.
Governor of Samsun Osman Kaymak, Members of Parliament Hasan Basri Kurt, Kemal Zeybek and Hayati Tekin, Garrison Commander Artillery Colonel Recep Ali Üstün, Mayor of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz, Rector Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç, Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kuran and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Cengiz, Provincial Police Chief Vedat Yavuz, OMU Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Dr. Menderes Kabadayı, Faculty Deans, academicians, administrative staff, students and the people of Samsun have joined the March where people from all strata ranging from children to younglings to the elderly have banded together for our martyrs and became of one heart.
The March was launched from Samsun 7th Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works and ended at the Statue of Honor located at the Square of Republic. Participants chanted slogans for the country and the martyrs and the people witnessing the event cheered joyously. People participating in the event have shown a very beautiful example of the union of the city and the university.
Slogans such as "One Nation, One Flag, One Country, One State ", “Martyrs are Immortal, Our Land is Indivisible”, “Spirit of Çanakkale Lives On” were shouted at the streets covered in red and white of the Turkish flag. Martyrs and the spirit of Çanakkale were remembered in a splendid emotional fervour while the crowd ofttimes saluted our soldiers, the hope of the oppressed and the downtrodden, fighting gallantly at the Operation Olive Branch.
The crowd kept a minute of silence in front of the Statue of Honor for the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all our martyrs and sung The Turkish National Anthem. After then, Rector Bilgiç made a speech based on the importance and meaning of the day.
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