Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı visited the Çanakkale Martyr’s Cemetery and the War Memorial. Minister Avcı was in Çanakkale to attend the 9th International Robotics Competition which is a part of the 100th year commemorations of the Çanakkale Victory

Minister Avcı recalled that in 1915 many high schools like the İstanbul High School, the Vefa High School, Kastamonu Abdurrahman Pasha High School and the Erzurum High School could not produce graduates “because those students came to Çanakkale and were martyred. In the old days diplomas used to be called “testament for martyrdom”. They received their best testament of martyrdom here. Thus this place is also a cemetery of education. They left their schools and came here to fight.”

Minister Avcı accompanied by students went to the cemetery and prayed for the souls of the fallen soldiers and then visited the cemetery of the 57th Brigade which was charged to halt the advance of the invading Anzac forces which is regarded the starting point of the Çanakkale (Dardanelles) campaign.

Minister Avcı chatted with tourists visiting the war sites as well as talking to Turkish citizens. The Minister also thanked Üsküdar Mayor Hilmi Türkmen who organized a visit for thousand Turkish students to visit the Çanakkale war memorials with the theme “From Üsküdar to Çanakkale 10 thousand youths are meeting their martyrs.”

The students told Minister Avcı they had relived the historic wars as they toured the region and felt great excitement seeing how Turkish soldiers had achieved the impossible. Minister Avcı headed the delegation that sent off the students back to İstanbul.