May 19th, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, and Nursing Week were celebrated together. The event began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, followed by the opening speeches of Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri ŞAHİN and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Rıfat MUTUŞ. Asst. Prof. A. Yüksel BARUT delivered a speech on the topic of "The Future of Atatürk and Our Nurses."
Dr. A. Yüksel BARUT started his speech titled "Atatürk on May 19th" with Mustafa Kemal's speech to local leaders in Tripolitania in October 1911: "Dear brothers, I am Senior Staff Captain Mustafa Kemal. As you know, our beloved land, Tripolitania, has been invaded by the Italians. My friends and I rushed here to defend and fight for this distant part of our homeland, along with our brothers living here. Although our state may be weak in terms of power and weapons, with the inspiration from our belief in the essential and noble source of strength possessed by our people, we are confident that we will triumph over all kinds of enemies. I decided to take on this responsibility with pride because I resolved not to live after my homeland is destroyed. A person lives for his religion, honor, and homeland. It is more honorable to arrive before the ancestors, saints, and saints with a martyr's shroud rather than arriving with a shameful face. Therefore, I expect your help in defending this homeland."
Mustafa Kemal graduated as a Staff Captain from the War Academy on January 11, 1905, while aboard an Austrian ship heading towards Damascus on February 10, 1905, he said, "Life is just beginning for us."
He noted down the 13 virtues adopted by Benjamin Franklin on November 11, 1905; 1- Moderation 2- Silence 3- Order 4- Determination 5- Thrift 6- Work 7- Sincerity 8- Justice and Fairness 9- Moderation 10- Cleanliness 11- Tranquility 12- Honor 13- Humility. He practiced these virtues throughout his life.
When he was assigned to the Staff of the Third Army in Thessaloniki, he participated, as a Major, along with Major Ali Fethi Bey, in the maneuvers held in Picardie, France, under the command of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, from September 12 to 18, 1910. On his return, he mentioned to Ali Fethi Bey that these maneuvers could be preparation for a major war, sensing the impending outbreak of World War I, whose name was not yet known.
In March 1911, he served alongside War Minister Mahmut Şevket Pasha in suppressing the uprising in Albania.
The Italian Government declared war on the Ottoman Empire on September 29, 1911, aiming to annex Tripolitania and Benghazi. Defense Minister Mahmut Şevket Pasha, Finance Minister Cavit Bey. Can a part of the homeland be surrendered to the enemy without consequences? Won't there be further consequences? A greater danger will come from the Balkans, so we must gather Tripolitania. "A piece of homeland cannot be abandoned cowardly as long as those attached to it breathe, hold weapons, and if there are bullets to shoot. As honorable members of the Turkish Army, we will defend Tripolitania to the end." he was saying.
On October 5, 1911, when the Italians attacked Tripolitania, Mustafa Kemal and his friends, disguised as Journalist Mustafa Şerif, along with some of his friends, left Istanbul for Alexandria and from there to Tripolitania.
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on November 27, 1911, and on December 8, 1911, Mustafa Kemal and his friends arrived in Benghazi and he assumed the position of Chief of Staff of Ethem Pasha, the commander of the Tobruk Region.
He was appointed as the Commander of the Tobruk Region on December 19, 1911, he arrived in Derna on December 30, 1911, and took over the command of the Eastern Volunteers in Derna. He had a force of 8,000 people, including 8 Ottoman officers and 160 soldiers under his command.
He was wounded in the eye during the defense of Kasr-ı Harun on January 16-17, 1912, and underwent a treatment process that extended to Vienna.
On October 18, 1912, the Treaty of Ouchy (Lausanne) was signed with Italy, and Tripolitania was ceded to the Italians. On October 24, 1912, he was appointed to the Naval Operations Department as the Operations Manager of the Bahr-i, Sefîd (Mediterranean) Straits, stationed in Gelibolu.
On October 27, 1913, he was appointed as the Military Attaché in Sofia, and Fethi Okyar was appointed as the Ambassador to Sofia. On January 11, 1914, he was also assigned as the Military Attaché in Belgrade and Cetinje, in addition to his duties in Sofia.
On July 28, 1914, when World War I broke out, in September 1914, he openly stated that the Germans would not emerge victorious from this war. On October 29, 1914, the Ottoman Empire entered World War I.
Due to his appointment as the Commander of the 19th Division to be formed in Tekirdağ, he left Sofia on January 20, 1915. The transfer of the 19th Division Command in Tekirdağ to Maydos (Eceabat) took place on February 25, 1915, and Mustafa Kemal continued his duty as the Maydos (Eceabat) Region Commander, in addition to the command of the 19th Division.
He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on June 1, 1915. On August 8, 1915, he was appointed as the Commander of the Anafartalar Group. On December 10, 1915, he left his post, handing it over to M. Fevzi Çakmak.
He arrived in Diyarbakır with the Corps on March 27, 1916, and was promoted to the rank of Major General (Mirliva) on April 1, 1916. On August 8, 1916, the forces under his command liberated Muş in the morning and Bitlis in the evening from enemy occupation. (It fell back into the hands of the Russians on August 25, 1916, and was recaptured on May 14, 1917).
On July
5, 1917, he was appointed to the Yıldırım Army Group (Headquarters of the 7th Army Corps was in Aziziye, the Yıldırım Army Group)
From December 15, 1917, to January 4, 1918, he participated in a trip to Germany with Crown Prince Vahdeddin. On September 22, 1918, he was appointed as an honorary aide-de-camp to Vahdeddin.
The Armistice of Mudros was signed on October 30, 1918.
The British occupied Mosul on November 8, 1918, and Iskenderun on November 9, 1918. On October 31, 1918, he was appointed as the Commander of the Yıldırım Army Group and the 7th Army Corps remained under his command, and he arrived in Adana from Katma and took over the command from General Liman von Sanders.
On November 7, 1918, as a result of the abolition of the Yıldırım Army Group and the 7th Army Corps Command, Mustafa Kemal was assigned to the Ministry of War as an Army Commander.
He departed from Adana by train on November 10, 1918, and arrived at Haydarpaşa Station on November 13, 1918. Upon seeing the British Navy anchored in the Bosphorus, he said to his companions, "They will leave as they came."
The Paris Peace Conference convened on January 18, 1919.
At the request of the British, on January 29, 1919, Ziya Gökalp, Hacı Adil, İsmail Canbulat, Kara Kemal, Hüseyin Cahit Yalçın, Dr. Tevfik Rüştü Aras, and 21 others were arrested. On March 10, 1919, Sait Halim Pasha and Fethi Okyar were also arrested, along with 21 others.
In April 1919, he met with War Minister Şakir Pasha, and as a result of the meeting with Chief of General Staff Fevzi Pasha's deputy Kazım Pasha, a directive containing the job description was approved only with the seal of War Minister Şakir Pasha, as Grand Vizier Damat Ferit did not sign it.
On April 30, 1919, he was appointed to the Command of the 9th Army Corps by the decree signed by Sultan Vahdeddin.
On May 16th, aboard the Bandırma Ferry: Mustafa Kemal and his staff of 22 people, soldiers and non-commissioned officers of 25 people, advisors and secretaries of 8 people, ship personnel of 21 people, a total of 76 people were on board. The Bandırma Ferry entered Sinop Port on May 18, 1919, around noon. When the ferry arrived, Ismail Hakkı Captain was experiencing the happiest moment of his life. He was thanking Allah in the midst of the pride of being able to fulfill this difficult duty. Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his comrades landed on the shore from the Bandırma Ferry via a small boat, at the Dil Pier, which is located between the current Samsun Grand Hotel and Yaşar Doğu Sports Hall, the first step monument left by the French. On May 19, 1919, when the young general arrived in Samsun, no one knew that he would initiate the liberation movement. The official task was to bring some rebellious gangs in Samsun and its surroundings under control. His official title was that of an army inspector.
The Youth and Sports Day was first celebrated in 1926 in Samsun under the name Gazi Day, and on May 24, 1935, it gained official status as Atatürk Day. With a law dated June 20, 1938, this National Holiday, which was celebrated as the "Youth and Sports Day," was renamed as the "Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day" after the September 12th Coup.
Dr. A. Yüksel BARUT concluded his speech with Mustafa Kemal's speech at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on April 23, 1920: "I have heard that some comrades want to return to their homeland, using our poverty as an excuse. I did not invite anyone to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey by force. Everyone is free in their decision, and others can join them. As a person who believes in this sacred cause, I have decided not to leave from here. In fact, all of you can leave. Captain Mustafa Kemal would take his rifle, load his chest with bullets, take the flag in one hand, and ascend Elmadağ. He would defend the homeland until his last bullet is spent. When my bullets are finished, I will wrap this helpless body in my flag, get injured by the bullets of the enemy, and give my clean blood to my sacred flag until I die alone. I have sworn to do this."
Our guest, Dr. Nurse Meral Kurt DURMUŞ, the Head of Patient Care Services at Istanbul Education and Research Hospital, shared valuable information with her presentation titled "Digitization in Nursing." Dr. Nurse Meral Kurt DURMUŞ stated in her presentation that hospital management systems, the use of information technologies in healthcare services, the application of closed-loop, digital emergency service, digital applications in intensive care units, nursing decision support systems, and the achievements of hospital management systems have contributed to the acceleration and quality improvement of health care service delivery. Dr. Nurse Meral Kurt DURMUŞ said, "Hospital Management System ensures standardization and increased access to data to make health care service delivery faster and of higher quality. The increase in the amount of data and the speed of access to data reached by health professionals have led to an increase in the number and variety of medical analyzes. Product management in the closed loop and decision support systems implemented have increased patient safety during health service delivery. The development of analytical capability has increased awareness among management and employees for more effective use of resources. The applications we use for newly started nurses have facilitated education and increased their awareness about hospital management systems."
Then, a theater group took the stage and performed a special show highlighting the spirit of May 19th and the importance of the nursing profession. The emotional performances of the nursing club theater actors, emphasizing the significance of May 19th, youth, and healthcare workers from past to present, moved the audience.
This special event, where participants came together, served as a reminder of national values and the importance of healthcare workers. Participants stated that they would continue to celebrate these important days with enthusiasm through similar events in the coming years.
