Uskudar University Health Services Vocational School (SHMYO) Social Services Program, in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services Martyrs' Relatives and Veterans Unit and Uskudar Social Services Center, organized the “Homeland and Heroism Encounters” event. Cyprus Veteran Kazım Kalelioğlu and Fehmi Kalender, father of Turkish Armed Forces Martyr Selman Kalender, attended the event.
The event, held at Uskudar University Çarşı Campus Emir Nebi Conference Hall, was attended by Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış, Uskudar University SHMYO Deputy Director Dr. Lecturer Ömer Faruk Karasakal, Uskudar University SHMYO Social Services Program Head Dr. Lecturer Melek Çaylak, Cyprus Veteran Kazım Kalelioğlu, Fehmi Kalender, father of Turkish Armed Forces Martyr Selman Kalender, and students.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış: “Our soldiers in our country fight to protect three sacred values”
Uskudar University Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış delivered the opening speech of the program. Barış said: “We have soldiers in our country who fight to protect three sacred values. These are; homeland, religion, and honor. There are people who lose their lives while performing their duty to protect these. From the moment they take their last breath, they encounter such great blessings that even when they are told, 'Here, have more life, go back to the world,' they say, 'We are willing to go back to the world not to live, but to be martyred again while fighting for these three sacred values.' On this occasion, I wish them mercy once again.”
Kazım Kalelioğlu: “Veterans are witnesses to martyrs”
Cyprus Veteran Kazım Kalelioğlu delivered his speech at the program. Kalelioğlu said: “Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasizes the importance that should be given to martyrs and veterans with these words: 'It is a national duty to glorify the memories of our martyrs and veterans who wrote golden pages in Turkish history and to express our gratitude and appreciation to them.' Those who have drunk the 'sherbet of martyrdom,' who lost their lives for the homeland and for duty, are martyrs. I am a combat veteran. That is, a person who participated in an interstate war is given the title of veteran at the end of the war. However, our state also grants the title of disabled veteran to those veterans who suffer limb loss, such as being wounded and losing a part of their limbs during this duty. Veterans are witnesses to martyrs. Martyrs are luminous, and veterans are honorable soldiers. I wish mercy to all our martyrs, especially Mustafa Kemal and his comrades-in-arms. We commemorate all our martyrs with mercy, gratitude, and respect. I wish our veterans healthy days.”
Fehmi Kalender, father of Turkish Armed Forces Martyr Selman Kalender, expressed his emotion, stating that he deeply felt the pain of his child.
Billur Deniz Ergüz: “It is valuable to forge a path from the experiences of people who have lived through the age of wisdom”
Billur Deniz Ergüz, daughter of Cyprus Veteran Hayati Seval and a student at Uskudar University, delivered her speech at the event. Ergüz said: “I am happy to be with you as the daughter of my father, Veteran Hayati Seval, one of Turkey's first SAT Commandos. After the Cyprus operation, a very beautiful article about my father was published in the Haberci newspaper. When the news of my father's death came, the whole family was devastated, and the family could not recover from this shock for a long time. Since I was very young, I only know from what was told. However, I remember my father's state when he hoisted the flag in Cyprus and my sibling running to the television. Therefore, we all understood at that moment that my father had not died and that another Hayati Seval had arrived at our home as an envelope. From the day we are born until we reach the age of wisdom, we go through many beautiful stages to become who we are. To be able to listen to the experiences of people who have lived through the age of wisdom and forge a path for ourselves from them is the most valuable aspect of this work.”
The event concluded with a group photo session after the presentation of thank-you certificates.