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FTAA’s
Turkish Festival Gathers Thousands Every year the FTAA parade coincides approximately with May 19th, the date back in 1919 on which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has launched the Turkish War of Liberation by landing on the Black Sea port of Samsun. May 19 is celebrated in Turkey as a national holiday dedicated to the "Youth and Sports."
In a congratulatory message he has sent to FTAA, U.S. President George W. Bush said "this year’s celebration of the vitality of the Turkish American Community and the strength of the U.S.-Turkey partnership acquires a special meaning, as you stand blocks away from Ground Zero. Turkey’s steadfast support in our fight against international terrorism and its commitment to lead the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan underscore that Turkey is both a key NATO ally and a model of a moderate and modern Islamic country." NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, in a similar message of congratulations he issued, reminded that "one of New York’s strengths is its diversity and the Turkish American community is an important part of New York’s reputation as the ‘Capital of the World.’" "Turkish Americans have made many wonderful contributions to our City and the Annual Turkish American Day Parade has become a New York tradition," Mayor Bloomberg said. FTAA’s month-long program highlights included the Central Park Children’s Festivities (Apr 21), a concert by famous Turkish singer Emel Sayin (Apr 26), a Beauty Pagent (Apr 27), Turkish Classical Music Concert by Turkocagi Chorus (Apr 28), An Evening of Poetry devoted to world-renown Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet (May 2), an evening of Turkish Folk Dance and Sufi Show — "Breezes from Anatolia IV" (May 5), 2nd Annual raising of the Turkish Flag at the Bowling Green Park (May 6), "Turkey," a slide show by Franz Edson (May 9), Tango Night Performance & Dance Instruction by Jak Karako (May 12), VOMART Ataturk Photography Exhibition (May 13 — May 19), Bronze Anatolia Sculture Exhibition by Rasim Konyar (May 15 — May 19), a meeting with author and journalist Ahmet Altan (May 16), Janissary Band Park Show (May 17), a symposium on "Turkish-American Relations after 9/11 and the Turkish World" (May 17), 21st Turkish-American Day Parade Celebration Dinner and Dance (May 17), Turkish American Day Parade (May 18), Youth Party (May 18), Commemoration of the Banishment of Crimean Turks (May 19), closing reception with a keynote address by Ambassador Mehmet Nuri Ezen (May 21).
The April 23rd Childrens' Festivities were mainly organized by two associations: ITSS-Intercollegiate Turkish Students Society and TAKB-Turkish Women's League of America. After weeks of volunteer work that program was made possible and served as the first "23 Nisan Celebrations" in the Central Park of Manhattan. On April 23, 1920 the first Turkish Grand National Assembly was inaugurated in Ankara. The day is celebrated in Turkey as a national holiday dedicated to "The Children and National Sovereignty." "April 23rd" is the first national holiday in the world dedicated to children. The second-generation Turkish American banker Osman "Oz" Bengur, who is running for the U.S. Congress this year from Maryland’s 2nd District (around Baltimore) as a Democrat was also at the Turkish American Day Parade. Among the sponsors of the FTAA festival are Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Promotion Fund, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture, and Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The festival had dozens of private sponsors as well, consisting of Turkish-American businesses and corporations (see www.ftaa.org for a more detailed list). The Turkish American Day Parade held on May 18th, was the eagerly expected climax of the Turkish Cultural Festival. Despite the chilly weather, approximately 10,000 Turkish-Americans and Turks from Turkey walked down the 5th avenue behind colorful banners and Turkish and American flags, displaying their ethnic pride and solidarity for all to see. Among those who marched proudly down the 5th avenue were the famous Turkish soccer teams Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce, Ministry of Tourism, Turkish Airlines, various banks, American Turk-Islam Ulkucu Dernekleri Federasyonu, Turkish Cypriot Aid Society, Ataturk School, Amity School, Azerbaijan Society of America, Turkmenistan Association, Korean War Veterans of America, world-renown Turkish Kangal Dogs of Sivas, British Petroleum, TurkOn Line, ART (Amasya Radio & TV), Eyup Sultan School, Ismail Gaspirali Bey School, Istanbul Sports Cultural and Educational Center, The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkish American Cultural Association of Southern New England, ATA Nesil Foundation, Kirim Turkleri Mosque, Polatli Kirim Turkleri Cultural and Solidarity Association , the Turkish Mehter Military Band and Ankara Seymen Warriors Folk Dance Group, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and American Turkish Association of Washington DC (ATA-DC) from the Washington region, Young Turks of America from New Jersey, Polatli Municipality delegation, Society of Turkish Architects Engineers & Scientists in America, Turk-Amerikan Muslumanlari Kultur Dernegi (TAMCA) from Levittown, PA, author Judge Sam Weems and Mrs. Weems, Turkistan American Association, Business Life Cooperation Association, American Karachai Benevolent Association, Turkish American Cultural Association of Long Island, and Selimiye Mosque of Burlington NJ. Ninety six Turkish students have carried the flags of 96 countries, in memory of all those who have lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of 9-11. The festivities were followed by a sizable contingency of Turkish and Turkish-American journalists and covered by such American mainstream media organizations as CBS, NBC and NY1 television channels, and New York Daily News and Newsday papers. Turkish state TV channel TRT also broadcast the parade live. |
