August 30 Victory Day in Turkey was celebrated with an official ceremony organized by the District Governor’s Office at Cumhuriyet City Square in Didim.
The holiday commemorates the decisive victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, the last battle in the Greco-Turkish War, on 30 August 1922. Following the battle, Greek military presence in Anatolia ended. Victory Day has been celebrated as an official holiday since 1926, and was first celebrated on 30 August 1923.
Before the official ceremony, Didim District Governor Can Kazım Kuruca, Garrison Commander Colonel Ali Saçan and his wife Başak Saçan, Mayor Ahmet Deniz Atabay, Chief Public Prosecutor Anıl Altay accepted the congratulations at the Office of the District Governor.
After the acceptance of the congratulations, the ceremony held in the city square was attended by Didim District Governor Can Kazım Kuruca, Garrison Commander Colonel Ali Saçan, Didim Mayor Ahmet Deniz Atabay, Chief Public Prosecutor Anıl Altay, official institution managers and political party representatives.
After the wreaths of the District Governor, the Garrison Commander and the Mayor’s Office were laid on the Atatürk monument, a moment of silence and the National Anthem was sung.
Garrison Commander Ali Sasan made a speech about the meaning and importance of the day and celebrated the August 30 Victory Day.
Later in the day, the 101st anniversary was marked with a number of activities.
The program began with a cortege from in front of the municipality building at 20:00 on Wednesday. Accompanied by marches and songs, the cortege, including a lantern procession took place, and continued on Cumhuriyet Avenue to Atatürk Boulevard and ended at City Square.
The march was organized by Didim Municipality. Didim Deputy Mayors E. Öznur Gündoğdu and Zeynel Şener, council members and many citizens participated in the march that started in front of the municipality. While big Turkish flags were carried in the march, marches were sung in unison. From time to time, shopkeepers and citizens accompanied the march, which continued on Cumhuriyet Street and Atatürk Boulevard, with applause. Thousands of people participated in the march that ended in Didim City Square.
The popular music group Bulutsız Özlem gave a concert in Cumhuriyet Square. The concert, attended by hundreds of Didim residents, was enthusiastic. At the end of the concert, Deputy Mayor E. Öznur Gündoğdu gave flowers and thanked the group.