Turkish Cultural Garden Dedication October 29, 2016
The Republic of Turkey was founded on October 29, 1923 - 93 years ago. So it was a perfect day for the Cleveland Turkish community to dedicate the new Turkish Cultural Garden.
The Turkish Cultural Garden will be one of 30 gardens in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens chain that share the motto "Peace through Mutual Understanding."
Mehmet Gencer from the Turkish Cultural Garden committee welcomed the crowd to the dedication of the new Turkish Garden.
Mehmet Gencer
He then introduced Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation president Sheila Murphy Crawford who welcomed the Turkish community to the family of Cultural Gardens.
Sheila Murphy Crawford
Mehmet Gencer and Sheila Murphy Crawford
NOTE: All the images below with a white arrow in the middle are videos. (The other images are just photos) You can click on the white arrow to watch the video of whatever is described. Make sure your speakers are on and you can make the video full screen once it begins by clicking the icon in the lower right corner.
Since the dedication took place 93 years after the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Mehmet Gencer told about the culture and history of Turkey and how the Turkish Cultural Garden began.
Ayla Gencer, president of the Turkish American Society of Northeastern Ohio (TASNO) spoke next.
Ayla Gencer in Turkish Cultural Garden
The ceremony concluded with a group photo and Ayla Gencer teaching the crowd how to say Happy Republic Day in Turkish.
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Watch this short interview with Mehmet Gencer about the Turkish Garden.
Enjoy these other images from the Turkish Cultural Garden dedication.
Mehmet Gencer and Paul Burik
Mehmet Gencer, Ingrida Bublys and Dan Hanson
Cleveland Cultural Garden board members at new Turkish Garden
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