ANKARA - May 19th, Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth & Sports Day, will be celebrated throughout Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and foreign missions abroad on Monday.
The ceremonies to be held on the occasion of May 19th will begin at 7:00 a.m. in capital Ankara, the Governor`s Office said on Sunday .
A state ceremony will be held at Anitkabir, mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey at 9:00 a.m.
President Abdullah Gul, as well as state and military officials will attend the ceremony at Anitkabir.
Another ceremony will be held at Ankara`s 19 Mayis Stadium afterwards. President Gul will also attend this ceremony which will be opened by a speech by the National Education Minister Huseyin Celik.
A national holiday throughout the country, Commemoration Day of Ataturk honours Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who was the founder of the Republic of Turkey and the country`s first president.
May 19th marks the day in 1919 when Ataturk landed in the Black Sea port of Samsun to start the "War of Independence".
Ataturk dedicated May 19th, the first stage of such war, to the youth and ever since then, it has been celebrated as "Youth and Sports Day" wherever Turks reside.
(DO-AY)