U.S. Airmen, Turkish airmen honor ‘Father of Turkey’

Turkish airmen and U.S. Airmen of Incirlik Air Base salute a monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony Nov. 10, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Turkish and U.S. Airmen gathered to honor Ataturk, the founder and first president of modern Turkey, on the 75th anniversary of his death. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chase Hedrick/Released)

U.S. Airmen, Turkish airmen honor ‘Father of Turkey’

Senior Airman Steven Lacefield, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics plans journeyman, and Staff Sgt. Michael Sheppard, 39th LRS vehicle maintenance core contracting officer representative, lay a wreath in honor of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Nov. 10, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Every year on the day and time that Ataturk died, all of Turkey pauses for a two-minute moment of silence to honor him. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chase Hedrick/Released)

U.S. Airmen, Turkish airmen honor ‘Father of Turkey’

Col. Brent Bigger, 39th Air Base Wing vice commander, and Turkish air force Col. Necip Yilmaz, 101st Operations Squadron commander, salute a monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony Nov. 10, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Ataturk became an important statesman in Turkey after years of struggle and strife when he proposed constitutional amendments Oct. 29, 1923, which would serve as a foundation for the new republic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chase Hedrick/Released)

U.S. Airmen, Turkish airmen honor ‘Father of Turkey’

Turkish airmen and civilians of the 10th Tanker Base Command sing the Turkish national anthem alongside U.S. Airmen during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony Nov. 10, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the founder and first president of modern Turkey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chase Hedrick/Released)

US, Turkish airmen honor 'Father of Turkey'

Published Nov. 13, 2013
By Senior Airman Chase Hedrick
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- U.S. Airmen participated in a ceremony alongside Turkish airmen honoring the founding father of the Republic of Turkey Nov. 10, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became the founder and first president of modern Turkey on Oct. 29, 1923, when Mustafa Kemal proclaimed the modern Republic of Turkey and became its first president. He died in Istanbul Nov. 10, 1938, at the age of 57, and every year since on the day and time that Ataturk died all of Turkey pauses for a two-minute moment of silence to honor him.