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                                                                                 19 May the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day

We celebrate 19 May, the date when Turkish Republic’s independence struggle started, with great enthusiasm and commemorate our great leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with gratitude. We endeavor hard with our young generations to eternally protect our country’s independence. Following the Armistice of Mudros, many regions of our country were occupied and the people began resisting strongly. Meanwhile, Mustafa Kemal Pasha was appointed to Samsun to inspect the armies stationed in the region. Mustafa Kemal set off aboard steamer SS Bandırma for Samsun on May 16, 1919. Arriving Samsun on 19 May 1919 as the inspector of the Ninth Army Troops , Mustafa Kemal Pasha began our Struggle of Liberation in Anatolia for an independent Turkish state. This struggle lasted until August 30, 1922 resulted in a great victory. In Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s opinion, May 19 was the date that the Republic of Turkey gained its independence. Therefore, to the persons asking his birthday, he always replied as 19 May 1919. In 1938, this special day was gifted to our youth to whom Atatürk entrusted our nation and who will keep it alive eternally. In order to always remember our great leader Atatürk and show our gratitude to him, its name was changed to The Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in 1981. 19 Mayıs, going down in history as the date Mustafa Kemal Atatürk set foot on Samsun, is celebrated every years all across the country with great enthusiasm under the title of The Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. Our country’s youth organize colorful May 19 events and read May 19 Mayıs poems reflecting the excitement of this important date. The Turkish Nation continues walk on our great leader Atatürk’s path to maintain its independence.