Turkish Day proclamation, celebration planned at Syracuse City Hall

Besides organizing Turkish Day on April 23 in Syracuse, the Turkish Cultural Center in Syracuse offers cooking classes (above), educational and recreational activities for children and families. The center is located at 320 Tracy St., Syracuse. (Photo courtesy of Tim Saka)
Besides organizing Turkish Day on April 23 in Syracuse, the Turkish Cultural Center in Syracuse offers cooking classes (above), educational and recreational activities for children and families. The center is located at 320 Tracy St., Syracuse. (Photo courtesy of Tim Saka)


Date posted: April 24, 2014

MELINDA JOHNSON / SYRACUSE, N.Y.

The first Turkish Day in Syracuse will be celebrated at City Hall from noon to 1 p.m. today. Mayor Stephanie Miner will read a proclamation followed by the raising of the flags of the United States and Turkey. The Turkish national anthem will be played. Afterward, folk dances will be performed and Turkish cuisine will be served. Weather permitting, the festivities will be held on the front steps of City Hall, 223 E. Washington St. If the weather is inclement, the celebration will move inside the building.

Tim Saka, director of the local Turkish Cultural Center, is organizing the event. For the Turkish community, April 23 is an important date in Turkey’s history. In 1920, the Turkish Parliament was inaugurated. “It’s like a celebration of democracy in Turkey,” said Saka. In Turkey, the holiday is National Sovereignty Day.

It is also the day Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of the republic of Turkey, set aside as Children’s Day. Saka said Ataturk believed “democracy benefits most the children because they are the future of the country and they deserve the democracy. So he dedicated that day as a children’s festival.”

Saka said the Turkish Cultural Center in Syracuse attracts a community of about 500 that includes Turkish, Bosnian and Ahiska populations. The center organizes a yearly Friendship Dinner, food drives, coffee and baklava nights, classes and activities for children, hosts lectures and assists with the resettlement of new immigrants.

Source: Syracuse.com , April 23, 2014


Related News

Indialogue Essay Contest on “Culture of Living Together”

The purpose of this program is to contribute to the understanding and the promotion of culture of living together among the diverse members of our society, from peers, to strangers, to adults, to figures of authority. The diversity of cultures and ethnicities of our city and our schools provide a unique opportunity for participants to demonstrate their visual expression of how best to achieve positive results in this area.

Interview: U.S. Judge Says Turkey’s Judiciary ‘Taken Over’ By Erdogan

Even before the coup attempt in July, the judiciary was being essentially taken over by [then] PM Tayyip Erdogan. When the attempted coup occurred in July, within 24 hours there were arrest warrants for almost 3,000 judges. And it’s very clear, and in fact it’s been admitted by the deputy chair of the High Council [of Judges and Prosecutors, the body that selects and assigns judges], that that list of judges had existed for years.

Fethullah Gulen calls on Muslims to help Hurricane Sandy victims

HizmetNews.COM  November  6, 2012 Fethullah Gulen, the honorary president of the Peace Islands Institute, has joined the relief efforts by donating $2000 to Helping Hands Relief Foundation for Hurricane Sandy victims. He wishes to express his deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones and sends his prayers for fast recovery to everyone who is affected. […]

Gülen’s teachings discussed this time in New York

The academic world around the globe is holding conferences and symposia one after another to discuss the ideas and dialogue activities of Fethullah Gülen, one of the greatest Islamic scholars of our age. Following a conference titled “Muslim World in Transition: Contributions of the Gülen Movement” held in London in the last week of October, […]

Teaching Peace in Schools

Alp Aslandogan, President, Alliance for Shared Values* This week New York City hosts the United Nations General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative and the Education Nation conference. These massive events focus on international diplomacy and peace, societal problem-solving and improving classroom instruction. However, just a few blocks away from these grand assemblies, a smaller group […]

The Atlantic Institute announces the Art & Essay Contest winners

The Atlantic Institute has announced the 11th year winners of its traditional Art & Essay Contest. This academic year’s theme was “Compassion in Action… Caring Matters!” Awards Ceremony will be held at noon on Saturday, April 15th, 2017.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Diplomatic solution: Pak-Turk schools may not be shut down after all

‘Alliance with PKK’ claims latest conspiracy against Gülen movement

Ahmet Şık’s book and Ergenekon’s media campaign (3)

Islamic scholar Gülen warns Hizmet movement against possible plots

Watson: My expressions were twisted by Sabah Daily

Award-winning US screenwriter: Without freedom of speech and media, we’re all slaves

Why Mr. Gülen was targeted

Copyright 2025 Insightful Neighbor