19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day Message from Rector Karakaş
Afyon Kocatepe University (AKU) Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Karakaş stated that the date of 19 May 1919 was the rebirth of a nation described as sick and the beginning of its march towards a free and bright future.
prof. Dr. Karakaş published a written message on the occasion of 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. In his message, Karakaş stated that May 19, 1919, the first step of the national struggle, was our nation’s torch of independence that would never go out. Karakaş noted that the torch, which started the national struggle in Samsun 104 years ago, is the flare of salvation with the inspiration and support of our nation.
Stating that 104 years ago, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades took the first step to Anatolia to start the independence struggle, he stated that the national struggle that started on 19 May 1919 by stepping on Samsun has an exceptional place in the history of Turkey. In his message, Karakaş noted that May 19, 1919 was a date when the epic history of the struggle for existence of a nation gathered around the same goals and ideals, started against the enemy invasion despite all the impossibilities, was written.
Rector Prof. Dr. Karakaş made the following statements in his message:
“May 19, 1919 is the date when the torch of freedom and independence was lit in Samsun, as a nation that introduced the power of our nation, which defeated all kinds of difficulties with its faith and will, to the whole world. At the same time, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s landing in Samsun is the starting date of a process that directs the flow of history, and it is a turning point that brings the Turkish Nation to a bright future and reaches the Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his friends drew the road map of the national struggle in Amasya, focused on its blessed goal in Erzurum and Sivas, took the will of the nation behind it with the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, and crowned the national struggle with the Republic on October 29, 1923. The Republic of Turkey, which was established as a result of the hard struggle given in great distress and poverty, was entrusted to our youth by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Thus, Atatürk emphasized his endless trust in Turkish youth. With these feelings and thoughts, we celebrate the 19th May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day of our beloved nation on the 104th anniversary of the process that started the National Struggle, and I commemorate all our martyrs and veterans, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with mercy, gratitude and gratitude.
