With the 'Loyalty to Immortal Heroes Project' launched under the leadership of the association headed by Cafer Akın, a veteran of FETO's July 15 coup attempt in Ankara's Kahramankazan district, relatives of martyrs and veterans contribute to their family economies by producing handmade products.
Cafer Akın, a municipal worker in Kahramankazan district, became a veteran after being shot in the leg as a result of the fire opened by coup plotters at Akıncı Base during FETO's July 15 coup attempt. Cafer Akın, who regained his health after his treatment, assumed the presidency of the 15 July Veterans and Martyrs' Families Association, established within the Kahramankazan Municipality. Akın has been organizing events for the benefit of all martyrs' relatives and veterans within the association for nearly 10 years, contributing to meeting their needs. Akın, who organized panels and symposiums in schools under the name of the association and talked about the night of July 15, recently launched the 'Loyalty to Immortal Heroes Project' with the support of the district governorship and the municipality. Within the scope of the project, relatives of veterans and martyrs make and sell candles, soaps, paper reliefs and leather bags. The project, in which veterans also participate, generates income by selling colorful candles and handmade bags. They also contribute to family economies with the income obtained from the sale of their products.
'THE SADEST WAY WAS BEING PUSHED WHEN WE UNLOVED OUR FLAG'
Akın explained that they gathered in front of the municipality and headed to Akıncı Base after President Erdoğan's call on the night of July 15, and said, "I was one of the first people to arrive at the base. As soon as we arrived at the base, traitors hidden in uniforms opened fire in the air as soon as they saw us. We were trying to convince them by talking because we thought we were our own soldiers. They told us that the planes taking off from here were going to Northern Iraq, but we did not leave. In the morning, intense fire opened. While I was at the front, my foot was shot." I was shot. I didn't realize I was injured at first. After the gunshots stopped, I saw blood everywhere. I didn't even feel my feet at that moment. When the traitor soldier came and pushed us with his foot and pushed us away with his rifle, I thought, "Oh no, the country is gone." When we reached the hospital, we felt great relief. "We were pushed with a rifle while singing the National Anthem and raising the Turkish flag. Another was when we were shot while saying 'How happy is the one who says I am a Turk' in the capital of the Republic of Turkey," he said.
'VETERAN PRIDE ELIMINATES PAIN'
Akın said that he has had 4 surgeries in the past 10 years and is now 70 percent disabled and said, "There are shrapnel pieces in my body and it bothers me from time to time. However, the pride of being a veteran and the honor of preventing the invasion of our homeland eliminate all our pain."
'WE WANT TO TELL THE 15TH OF JULY TO THE LARGE MASSES'
Stating that they carry out various activities to convey July 15 to future generations correctly, Akın said, "As an association, we organize programs such as 'The Hero Won July 15' when schools open. We tell our middle school and high school students about what happened that night. We see that some of the young people grew up with wrong information. When we tell them how the events happened, they are very surprised and say that they have just learned that such events took place in their districts. In the future, we will carry these activities outside the province and explain July 15 to a wider audience." "We want it," he said.
Emphasizing that they are trying to keep the legacy of the martyrs alive, Akın said, "We carry out various activities for them within the association. We gave them training with the last project we started. Then we started making items such as candles and bags. Our project attracted great attention. They forget all the pain experienced here. They support their family economies with the handicrafts they make. May God never let our nation and state experience such a treacherous night again."