At the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day commemoration ceremony held on Spil Mountain in Manisa, the Turkish flag was raised with the participation of members of the Turkish War Disabled Veterans Martyr Widows and Orphans Association Manisa Branch, public institutions and NGOs.
On the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day in Manisa, Gazi Yusuf Kıyışkan, Manisa Branch President of the Turkish War Disabled Veterans, Martyr Widows and Orphans Association, together with the veterans who are members of the association and representatives of public institutions and non-governmental organizations, raised the Turkish flag at the summit of Spil Mountain with a ceremony. Spil Mountain National Park Director Halil Ernalçacı, AFAD Provincial Director Osman Pıhtılı, Manisa Provincial Gendarmerie Command Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK) Team, Manisa Provincial Health Directorate UMKE team, Provincial Youth and Sports Directorate representatives, Manisa Mountaineering Club members, Spil Mountain National Park Directorate personnel and AFAD team attended the ceremony at Spil Mountain National Park Turan Bayrak Tepe location. The teams that came to the Turan Bayrak Tepe observation deck accompanied by a convoy made a press statement before the flag change.
Gazi Kıyışkan, President of the Manisa Branch of the Turkish War Disabled Veterans, Martyr Widows and Orphans Association, noted that they came to change the flag on Spil Mountain Bayrak Tepe, one of the symbol points of Manisa, with the heroic veterans on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. Gazi Kıyışkan said, "Soon, we will proudly wave our glorious flag at this sacred summit. On the night of July 15, 2016, in the treacherous coup attempt of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, 253 of our citizens were martyred and 2 thousand 737 of our citizens became veterans. However, that night, our nation protected its homeland, flag and democracy at the expense of its life. It showed a great resistance that will be an example to the world and is an epic written in history in golden letters." This glorious red flag that we raise here today is the symbol of our loyalty to our beloved martyrs. It is the symbol of the sacrifice of our heroic veterans and the strongest sign of the unshakable unity and solidarity of our nation. Our flag with stars and crescent that will fly from the top of Mount Spil will give the following message to our entire nation and future generations: 'This homeland is the legacy of our martyrs. As long as the Turkish nation exists, this flag will not fall, this adhan will survive forever.' On this occasion, we commemorate all our martyrs, especially our July 15 martyrs, with mercy, gratitude and prayers. "We express our gratitude to our heroic veterans and celebrate our nation's July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day with respect and pride," he said.
AFAD Provincial Director Osman Pıhtılı, who attended the ceremony, said, "We will hold a flag changing ceremony with our veterans and martyrs' families. May God not let this country experience such pain and give the opportunity to traitors."
Selami Pazar, a veteran member of the association who lost both eyes in a terrorist attack in the southeastern region, said that he could not see it, but he wanted to attend the ceremony of raising the red flag on such a meaningful day.
Following the speeches, the change of the Turkish flag due to adverse weather conditions was carried out by the JAK Team and Spil Mountain National Park Directorate teams. The ceremony ended after a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. - MANISA