Monday, April 16, 2007

Lest We Forget - Gallipoli


No words can reflect the spirit of Gallipoli better than the speech of Mustafa Kemal ATATURK, the Turkish National Hero of the Gallipoli battles, Turkish Independance War and the founder of the Modern Republic of Turkey addressed at a Gallipoli memorial service in 1934:

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.”

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