At 09:05, the precise time of Atatürk’s death in 1938, a minute of silence was observed across the country. The Turkish flag was lowered to half-mast, and the National Anthem was recited. President Erdoğan placed a wreath of red and white carnations on Atatürk’s mausoleum before moving to the Misak-ı Milli Tower to sign the official guest book.
In his entry in the Anıtkabir Special Book, President Erdoğan stated that the Turkish state is mobilizing all its capabilities to carry the Republic into a more prosperous future during a period of regional and global crises. “We are determined to continue revitalizing this sacred homeland, the sacred trust of our martyrs and veterans, in unity of goal and ideal with our nation,” Erdoğan wrote. He expressed condolences for the martyrs, veterans, and the members of the Grand National Assembly who guided the War of Independence.
Separated from the main state ceremony, Speaker Kurtulmuş issued a separate statement on social media, identifying Atatürk as the first president of the Grand National Assembly and the commander of the National Struggle. “We commemorate the aziz memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the commander-in-chief of the National Struggle, who paved the way for the founding of an independent and strong Turkish Republic,” Kurtulmuş wrote. He also extended prayers for all heroes who sacrificed their lives for the motherland.
Meanwhile, in Nevşehir, local tourism authorities marked the anniversary with a special hot air balloon flight in the Göreme district. Several balloons displayed Turkish flags and posters of Atatürk in their baskets. Pilot Türker Oğuz told journalists that the special flight, which lasted approximately one hour, was organized specifically to honor Atatürk’s memory against the backdrop of the region’s fairy chimneys. Citizens also visited the room in Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul where Atatürk died, a traditional annual observance.
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