March 18 Çanakkale Victory and Martyrs’ memorial day commemorated in Komotini

The Consulate General of Türkiye in Komotini held a meaningful ceremony to commemorate the March 18 Çanakkale Victory and Martyrs’ Memorial Day, along with the anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish National Anthem.

The event took place at the Consulate General’s garden at 2:30 PM, with the participation of minority representatives and Turkish compatriots. Consul General Aykut Ünal and his wife, İlayda Ünal, welcomed the guests.

Moment of Silence and National Anthem
The ceremony began with a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs who lost their lives in the Battle of Çanakkale and other struggles for the homeland. This was followed by the recitation of the Turkish National Anthem by all attendees.

Chairman of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board, Mustafa Trampa, delivered a speech, emphasizing the significance of the Çanakkale Victory:

“Çanakkale is not just a battle; it is the name of a nation’s determination, perseverance, and heroism. In 1915, the world’s most powerful navies attempted to pass through the Dardanelles to capture Istanbul and erase the Ottoman Empire from history. However, they faced the fearless Turkish soldiers who, with faith and love for their homeland, engraved the words ‘Çanakkale is Impassable’ in golden letters in history. On this occasion, we remember with gratitude and respect Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, and all our heroic martyrs and veterans.”

Trampa concluded his speech by reciting lines from Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s famous poem “To the Martyrs of Çanakkale”:

"Shot in the forehead, he lies there, pure and still,
For just a crescent, O Lord, how many suns have been set!"

Speech by Consul General Aykut Ünal
Consul General Aykut Ünal delivered a speech underlining the deep meaning of the day, stressing that the Turkish National Anthem is more than just a poem—it is the cry of a nation rising from its ashes:

“Our National Anthem is the blood of our martyrs, the voice of the people, and the guiding light of the soldiers on the battlefield. Mehmet Akif Ersoy refused to accept any prize for his poem, showing that the greatest reward was not material but the honor of independence.”

Ünal also highlighted the strategic significance of the Çanakkale Victory and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s genius in changing the course of history:

“A pair of blue eyes, opened in Thessaloniki, gazed upon the battlefields of Çanakkale and saw victory. Those same eyes would later lead a nation to independence.”

Prayers for the Martyrs
The ceremony concluded with a prayer led by Komotini Mufti İbrahim Şerif in memory of the martyrs. The event ended with messages of unity and solidarity.