The 103rd anniversary of 30 August Victory Day was celebrated throughout the day with various events in Samsun.

Wreath Laying and Greeting Ceremony

In the morning, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Monument, where Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) was represented by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın. Following the wreath presentation, the program continued with a greeting ceremony at the Governor’s Office.

After the official greetings, protocol members proceeded to the celebration area on Fuar Street along the historic “Kurtuluş Yolu” (Liberation Road) in the İlkadım district. There, Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı, Garrison Commander Major General Davut Ala, and Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Halit Doğan greeted citizens from a ceremonial vehicle and extended their holiday wishes.

The program continued with speeches emphasizing the significance of the day, poetry readings, and a performance by commandos, who also recited the Commando Oath. The Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Folk Dance Ensemble performed regional folk dances, and the Garrison Command Band gave a concert. The celebration concluded with an official parade.

Kurtuluş Yolu Bicycle Tour Award Ceremony

On the same day, OMU was represented by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz at the “Kurtuluş Yolu Bicycle Tour Award Ceremony.”

“Liberation Road Walk in the Footsteps of the Independence Medal”

As part of the celebration program, protocol members participated in the “Liberation Road Walk in the Footsteps of the Independence Medal,” which started in front of the Samsun Museum and followed the route of the historic Kurtuluş Yolu.

Accompanied by a military band, the walk included protocol members, citizens, guests from 17 districts, institutional personnel, flag and banner teams, military units, gendarmerie and police officers, scouts, Metropolitan Municipality teams, and veterans.

The widely attended walk culminated in a solemn moment of prayer, a flag salute, the symbolic throwing of carnations into the sea, and a fireworks display.

30 August Victory Day Reception

The final event of the day was the 30 August Victory Day Reception held at the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality’s Multi-Purpose Hall. Celebrations continued with a “Walk to the Governor’s Office with the Independence Medal” program along the Kurtuluş Yolu route.

The events concluded with a group photo taken in front of the Governor’s Office Protocol Entrance and the ceremonial placement of the Independence Medal in the governor’s office.

Broad Participation

Participants in the celebrations included:

• AK Party Samsun Members of Parliament Çiğdem Karaaslan, Orhan Kırcalı, and Ersan Aksu
• CHP Samsun MP Murat Çan
• Saadet Party MP Mehmet Karaman
• Samsun Chief Public Prosecutor Mehmet Sabri Kılıç
• OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın
• Black Sea Region Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Ahmet Bahadır
• Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Mustafa Bahçepınar
• Provincial Police Chief Ahmet Arıbaş
• OMU Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer and Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz
• OMU Secretary General Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar
• District governors, provincial party leaders, heads of institutions, veterans, families of martyrs, and many citizens