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  • Remembering, honoring Ataturk

    When you travel in Turkey you will see the photos in various sizes and exposures at stores, offices, even at small village coffee houses of a man. He is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stands as an historic figure who totally dedicated his life to his

  • Constitution reigns overseas, in garrison

    Eleven years after our nation claimed its independence from Britain with signing of one of the greatest documents in the history of the United States, yet another significant document was forged - the Constitution of the United States. Whereas the Declaration of Independence established our nation,

  • Turkish Victory Day honors past, present armed forces

    In honor of the final victory of national Turkish forces over Greek invaders in 1922, all Turkish armed forces promotions, enlistments and commissions occur Aug. 30, also known as the national holiday Victory Day.The High Military Council convenes the first week of August every year when the

  • Sugar Festival marks end of Ramadan

    The Sugar Festival is a celebration held at the end of Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims. The three-and-a-half-day celebration begins noon Aug. 29, the last day of Ramadan and continues through Sept. 1.Schools and government offices are closed during those days, as it is a national religious

  • Women’s Equality Day: Honoring historical triumphs

    Times change, and they change quickly. Less than 100 years ago, people could only imagine the successes of hard-charging woman pioneers in recent years , the social equality woman have since obtained, or the dream of having equal voting rights regardless of gender achieved. The teasing and taunting

  • Turkey celebrates Ataturk's Memorial; Youth and Sports Day

    In Turkey, May 19 marks the celebration of Ataturk's Memorial, Youth and Sports Day.This special day is the 92nd anniversary of when the country's War of Independence was ignited.Mustafa Kemal founded the Republic of Turkey on the ashes of a collapsed empire and started civil reforms to westernize

  • The significance of Children's Day in Turkey

    Children are our hope and our future.They are like the flowers blooming in April--a sign of new beginnings. Turkey emphasizes the love, hope and future of children by proclaiming a national holiday for them. As far as I know, Turkey is the first country to proclaim a national holiday just for

  • Tragic events at Frankfurt remind us to stay vigilant

    Like the rest of you, Betty and I were deeply saddened by the senseless attack at Frankfurt International Airport that claimed the lives of two of our Airmen and left two others seriously wounded. Our hearts and prayers remain with all those affected by this tragic event. I've been touched by the

  • Situational awareness got me safely out of Egypt

    This January, I had the dubious distinction of being the only Airman from Incirlik Air Base to be traveling in Egypt when their revolution began. Due to the uniqueness of the situation, I have been asked to write on my experience. When initially planning my visit to Egypt with my parents for

  • The buck stops here

    "The Buck Stops Here!" are words made famous by our 33rd president Harry S. Truman, a Missourian farm boy who survived World War I and suffered several business failures, only to come back time after time. As President of the United States he shepherded many great world-changing events ... the end