Lest we forget...

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

Letter to Anzac Morthers

Ataturk, 1934

Lest we forget...

Image from Fanpop.com

Lest we forget...

Today is Anzac Day...The 99th anniversary of the ANZAC landing to Gallipoli. I want to commemorate them with the letter written by Ataturk; the commander of the Turkish armies during the battle in Gallipoli – Founder of the Modern Turkish Republic; which he sent to Anzac mothers in 1934 in order to acknowledge the heroism displayed by their fallen sons as well as signifying the friendship which was born from the ashes of the war.

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.” 

Here are some photos from Anzac Day 2009...

 The Sphinx at Anzac Cove