Memorial Day, May 25, 2020: A Turkish Colleague’s Perspective

05/25/2020

All over the world, at different tough geographies, there are immortal signatures of U.S. soldiers and their friends to let the democracy, human rights, and justice become sovereign over the countries and the people.

This is the day we all remember of those ones as President Reagan said ” Heroes may not be braver than anyone else.

“They’re just braver 5 minutes longer.”

Our colleague added the memorial message carved into a stone found at the site of the battle of Gallipoli.

Those heroes who 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 Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country to of ours.

You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away 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.”

Gallipoli, Mustapha Kemal Atatürk, 1934.