30 Ağustos Zafer Bayramı, bundan sonra Amerika’nın Alabama eyaletinde de kutlanacak
ABD’nin güneyindeki Alabama eyaletinin Valisi Don Siegelman, Türklerin Kurtuluş Savaşı mücadelesinde yaşadığı zorluklara ve sıkıntılara atfen, “Zafer Bayramı’nı kutladığımız” 30 Ağustos gününü, “Kurtuluş, Egemenlik ve Bağımsızlık Yolunda Türkler’in Yaşadığı Trajediyi Anma Günü” ilan etti.
Vali Siegelman, 30 Ağustos’u Alabama’nın resmi günü kabul ederken, ’Türkiye’nin, İslam dünyasında tek laik demokrasi olduğunu ve barış yönündeki uluslararası çabalarda yaşamsal rol oynadığını’ bildirdi. Türkiye’nin, Kore Savaşı’ndan bu yana ABD’nin yanında yer aldığını söyleyen Siegelman, “Alabama halkı, insanlık trajedilerinin önlenmesi için, geçmişteki kayıpların kınanmasında çok duyarlıdır” dedi. Alabama, 30 Ağustos’u Türkiye günü ilan ederek, önemli bir adım attı.
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State of Alabama PROCLAMATION By the Governor
WHEREAS, millions of citizens of the Ottoman Empire from different religious and ethnic backgrounds died from inter-communal violence, forced migration, disease and starvation during World War I and the collapse of the Empire; and
WHEREAS, Turkish Americans bear a great burden of sorrow from the tragic events which befell their ancestors from 1912-1922; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish people valiantly fought a long War of Liberation to safeguard their sovereignty and independence and founded the Republic of Turkey, October 29, 1923; and
WHEREAS, recognition of the Turkish tragedy is crucial to ensuring against the repetition of the future civilian wartime tragedies; and
WHEREAS, Turks enjoy a long history of friendship by living in harmony with different ethnic groups and sharing a geographic and cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, Turkey has the only secular democracy in the Muslim world and has made significant contributions to U.S. foreign policy in the Balkans, Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus and has played a crucial role in international efforts for peace, prosperity and stability; and
WHEREAS, Turkey has been a staunch ally of the United States and has supported the U.S. in every major conflict since the Korean War and has become an integral part of Europe through its membership in NATO and the Council of Europe; and
WHEREAS, residents of Alabama are highly sensitive to the need for consistently remembering and openly condemning the loss of ail civilians due to war and ethnic strife to prevent future civilian tragedies; and
WHEREAS, Americans of Turkish descent in Alabama have played a significant role in the educational, cultural, economic and civic development of our community; and
WHEREAS, we recognize many individuals of Turkish descent who have chosen our community as their home and share their rich heritage with us:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Don Siegelman, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby proclaim August 30, 2001, as
Day of Remembrance of the Turkish Tragedy for Liberation to Sovereignty and Independence in the state of Alabama.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND and the great Seal of the Governors Office at the State capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 8th day of August 2001
