Turkey Marks 87th Anniversary of Atatürk’s Passing with Nationwide Tributes

For one minute, traffic stopped, pedestrians stood in silence and drivers stepped out of their cars to pay their respects to the visionary leader who transformed the former Ottoman Empire into a modern republic in 1923.

In Ankara, thousands gathered at Anıtkabir, Atatürk’s mausoleum, to take part in the official state ceremony. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, military commanders and top officials laid wreaths at his tomb as the national anthem filled the air.

Families, students and visitors from across the country later streamed into the memorial, carrying flags, carnations and photographs of Atatürk. 

In Istanbul, the heart of the commemorations was Dolmabahçe Palace, where Atatürk spent his final days and passed away on Nov. 10, 1938. 

As early as dawn, thousands formed long lines stretching along the Bosphorus to enter the palace. The official ceremony inside his bedroom, draped with a Turkish flag over the bed where he died, began with a presidential wreath, followed by tributes from the state officials.

At exactly 9:05 a.m., the moment of Atatürk’s death, sirens sounded and visitors bowed their heads in silence. sirens sounded and visitors bowed their heads in silence. Many were visibly moved, some wiping away tears as the national anthem echoed through the halls.

“We are deeply saddened, but not by his absence, for he is always in our hearts. I know that every child of this nation loves him dearly, and that today, we all share the same profound feeling,” said Dilek Ayna, a citizen attending the commemoration.

Another visitor, Mahir Ali Taş, expressed similar emotions: “I feel a profound sense of sorrow. Yet, seeing so many people remembering such a colossal leader warms my heart.”

From the northwestern city of Kırklareli to the eastern province of Iğdır, commemorations took place across the country.

Governors, mayors, soldiers, students and citizens observed a minute of silence in front of Atatürk monuments, followed by the national anthem. 

In coastal cities, ferry passengers stood in silence as ship sirens joined the nationwide tribute.

Hundreds of hot air balloons soared above the fairy chimneys of Nevşehir’s Cappadocia, decorated with Turkish flags and portraits of Atatürk.

In Erzurum, members of local hiking clubs marked the day with a 16-kilometer memorial walk. At the summit, participants unfolded a giant Turkish flag and observed a moment of silence for Atatürk amid the mountain landscape.

Despite schools being on a short break, many across the country reopened briefly to hold remembrance ceremonies. Students recited poems and sang songs in honor of the leader whose vision continues to shape modern Turkey. 

Atatürk’s legacy, his reforms in education, women’s rights and secular governance, remains central to the nation’s identity.

Each year on Nov. 10, millions pause to remember not only his passing but the enduring ideals he left behind: Independence, progress and unity.