The Poet of Independence Mehmet Akif Ersoy was commemorated on the 85th anniversary of his death with a ceremony held at his grave in Edirnekapı Martyrs' Cemetery.
Governor of Istanbul Ali Yerlikaya, Istanbul Provincial Director of National Education Levent Yazıcı, Istanbul Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Coşkun Yılmaz, Eyüpsultan District Governor İhsan Kara, the poet's granddaughter Selma Argon, and students and youth from many schools attended the commemoration ceremony.
The ceremony started with the prayers read for the soul of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and the recitation of the Holy Quran. Then, carnations were left in the grave of the Poet of Independence. The youth who gathered at Ersoy's grave and left carnations commemorated the National Poet on the 85th anniversary of his death by praying.
Selma Argon, who prayed at her grandfather's grave, “Of course, I am happy to be here today. It makes more sense when it comes to young people collectively. May his place and all our martyrs rest in heaven. May their souls rest in peace, especially our Kemal Pasha. I say that they should not spare their prayers from us. Youth always shows their interest, they should not be missing,” she said.
"I WAS VERY TOUCHED"
Mehmet Kansız, one of the little students who came to commemorate Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the Poet of Independence, “We came to Mehmet Akif Ersoy's cemetery today and I was really touched. Because he is a very important poet. I wish Allah’s mercy on him. We came with my school friends," he said.
Another student, Muhammet Enes, who came to visit the poet, “We came to commemorate our National Poet. We represented Asım's generation at school here. We are very emotional,” he said.
After the ceremony ended, soup and halvah were served to the children who came.