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Samsun celebrates 19 May with symbolic Flag Handover Ceremony

Tolga Berk Can Dereci 20 May 2026, Wednesday - 11:00 Updated: 21 May 2026, Thursday - 11:00
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As part of the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day celebrations, a “Flag Handover Ceremony” was held in Samsun.

At the ceremony held on Kurtuluş Yolu (Independence Road), the starting point of the National Struggle, the Turkish flag was brought ashore and handed over to young people, symbolizing Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun.

The program held on Kurtuluş Yolu began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. Afterwards, performances were presented by the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Folk Dance Team.

Governor Tavlı: “19 May is a historic turning point”

Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı delivered the opening speech of the program and emphasized the importance of 19 May in the Turkish nation’s struggle for independence:

“We all feel in our hearts the honor, pride, and excitement of the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. On Friday, 16 May 1919, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms set out from Istanbul aboard the Bandırma Ferry, which changed the fate of the beloved Turkish nation. On the morning of Monday, 19 May 1919, they landed in Samsun and took the first step of the National Struggle. In this respect, 19 May became a spark of the spirit of independence and future rising from every corner of Anatolia against enemy occupation, and a historic turning point.”

In the continuation of his speech, Governor Tavlı stated that the torch of independence lit in Samsun spread throughout Anatolia and that the Turkish nation’s struggle for independence was crowned with the proclamation of the Republic.

Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun reenacted symbolically

Following the speeches, the “Flag Handover Ceremony” was held at Tütün Pier, where Atatürk first stepped ashore in Samsun to launch the War of Independence. The Turkish flag symbolizing Atatürk’s arrival ashore was brought to land by soldiers.

As part of the program, the historic landing of 19 May 1919 was reenacted by two naval soldiers, two land force soldiers, and one naval officer. The Turkish flag carried by the soldiers was handed over to five scouts under the supervision of Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı. The scouts then carried the flag in a procession to the İlkadım Archery Facilities, where the main ceremony would be held.

In addition to Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, the flag handover ceremony was attended by AK Party Samsun Members of Parliament Çiğdem Karaaslan, Attorney Ersan Aksu and Orhan Kırcalı, CHP Samsun Member of Parliament Murat Çan, Samsun Garrison Commander Major General Gazi Davut Âla, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Attorney Halit Doğan, Coast Guard Black Sea Regional Commander Rear Admiral Ahmet Bahadır, Provincial Police Chief Ahmet Arıbaş, district governors, mayors, representatives of public institutions and organizations, military officials, and many citizens.