During the afternoon of Friday , July 29, 2011 members from Women's League,Assembly of Turkish American Associations, Turkish American Cultural Alliance participated in the annual memorial service for the military personal who fought in the Korean War.
The program was organized by the Cpl. Allen F. Kivlehan Chapter of the Korean War Veterans organization of Staten Island, New York, the very meaningful commemoration included the formal presentation of flags,prayers by Christian and Muslim clergy,singing of the Korean and American National Anthems,speeches ,and wreath laying ceremonies. The program was conducted by Chapter Commander Mr. Joseph Calabria. From Korea State Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Mr. Sung Choon Park ,Ambassador / Consul General of the Republic of Korea Young-mok Kim and Korean American community and the American Korean War Veterans who all paid special attention to the presence of the Turkish community and for Turkey's courage and support during the Korean War at the ceremony.
Though our participants were few in number,we feel that recognition should be paid to those who did represent our community at the memorial service:
Deputy Consul General Pinar Senturk Sevi said in her speech that ‘’In 1950, after the devastating second world war Turkey, Korea and The United States were weary of war. But together with men and women from 20 other nations, they joined the very first peace keeping mission of the United Nations to preserve peace on the Korean Penınsula. For this purpose, they fought shoulder to shoulder with the brave people of South Korea to defend themselves against aggression and to preserve their independence.
Today, despite the geographical distance, Turkey maintains friendly relations with South Korea and enjoys a strategic partnership and strong ties of alliance with The United States. We owe these special relations to those South Korean, Turkish and American soldiers who fought together to defend freedom.
As we stand here today to remember and honor those who fought for freedom in Korea, I would like to once again express our gratitude to all the heroes of the Korean War. We will never forget them’’
Also Religious Attache of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Suleyman Duman Recited prayers from the Kor'an
Speaking on behalf Turkish Women's League and Turkish American Cultural Alliance and Assembly of Turkish American Associations, ATAA Ibrahim Kurtulus in his speech said that :
Turkey which was against aggression immediately supported the United Nation as a requirement of the Peace at Home Peace Abroad principle of founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Turkey was the first nation after the US to run to the help of South Korea with a 15,000 combat troops to a land most Turks had never heard of before, but they know freedom was at steak. And that almost every Turkish family had connections with the Korean War, and Turkish troops who participated in the war came back home as if they were as Koreans and a part of Korea.
Kurtulus also said that because of the Korean War , The history of our respective nations has been written with the blood of our sons and daughters who gave their young lives with the hope their sacrifice would free the world of the scourge of war.
Kurtulus concluded by saying : On behalf of The Turkish Women's League conveyed to the Korean War Veterans; that we honor and hold them with high esteem! plus expressed our appreciation to the Korean War Veterans for showering us with great honor in addressing the participants.
Kurtulus , Reiterated our respects for all the nations who fought and died on the land of Korea, Pledged our friendship for all people of good will and said that we will always remember FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
The ceremony continued and as each of the Turkish personal was introduced, a resounding applause greeted our community.
On behalf of Turkish Women's League President Sermin Ozcilingir who's organization sponsored the very large beautiful Turkish Flag Wreath and our President of Assembly of Turkish American Association Ergun Kirlikovali who also sent a large Wreath to honor our Turkish Korean War Veterans.
I would like to express our profound apperception to Turkish Consul General The Honorable Mehmet Samsar and Vice Consul General The Honorable Pinar Senturk Sevi and Religious Attache Suleyman Duman for their support and to our group for representing the Turkish community at this important gathering to remember our fallen Turkish Korean War Veterans.
