The New York State Senate

K298

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 93rd Anniversary of Turkish
National Sovereignty and Children's Day on April 23, 2013

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
just tribute to the cultural heritage of the ethnic groups which
comprise and contribute to the richness and diversity of the community
of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate
the 93rd Anniversary of Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day
on April 23, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Every year on April 23rd, over half a million Turkish-Ameri-
cans celebrate Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day; and
WHEREAS, On this day, 93 years ago, the Turkish Grand National Assem-
bly (Parliament) was established to take lead in realizing the aspi-
rations of Turkish people for freedom, justice and peace; and
WHEREAS, Marked for the first time in 1921 as the Turkish National
Day, April 23rd had also been celebrated since 1927 as the Children's
Day to signify the role of future generations in realization of the
Turkish dream for peace, progress and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, Since its establishment, Turkish Republic has demonstrated
its commitment to the universal values of liberty, justice, democracy
and tolerance as well as to its long-term strategic alliance with the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Modern Turkey is the world's only predominantly Muslim secu-
lar parliamentary democracy, among the fastest growing emerging markets
and remains an important United States and NATO ally in a vast region
stretching from Eastern Europe and North Africa to the Middle East and
Central Asia; and
WHEREAS, During the 1950-1953 Korean War, over 5,000 Turkish soldiers
took part and over 700 of them fell as heroes fighting alongside the
Americans; and
WHEREAS, Since 1952, Turkey has been a key NATO member and a major
contributor to alliance missions, most recently in Kosovo and Afghanis-
tan; and
WHEREAS, Within less than a century of immigration, Turkish-Americans
have had a unique imprint on a diverse cultural spectrum of our nation,
and contributed to America's advancement in the fields of business,
science, medicine, technology and arts; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to join Turkish-Am-
ericans and members of the Turkish Cultural Center in celebration of
this most auspicious day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the 93rd Anniversary of Turkish National Sovereignty and Chil-
dren's Day on April 23, 2013.