Contemplate the solemn silence that blankets Yalıncak Cemetery. This is no ordinary burial ground. It is a place where history and memory intertwine.
Yalıncak Cemetery in Ankara is a testament to lives lived and legacies etched in stone. It is a place where the past whispers to the present. It is a reminder of the human experience.
The Turkish State Cemetery offers a glimpse into the nation’s soul. Established in 1988, it stands as a memorial park. This hallowed ground is the final resting place for presidents. Also buried here are commanders of the War of Independence. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s close companions-in-arms are here too.
Imagine the weight of history. Picture the state funeral ceremony that opened this cemetery. It was August 30, 1988. The bodies of two presidents were transferred here. Cemal Gürsel and Cevdet Sunay now rest here. Sixty-one commanders of the War of Independence joined them. President Kenan Evren attended. Prime Minister Turgut Özal also paid his respects. Leaders of political parties were present. Erdal İnönü and Süleyman Demirel stood in solemn attendance.
The Ministry of National Defense now administers this sacred space. The cemetery spans 536,000 square meters. Only 180,000 square meters are planned. The rest remains a green area.
Atatürk himself ordered the construction of the Black Sea Pool in 1931. It has been restored. The pool’s surrounding area now serves as a recreational park.
As you wander through Yalıncak Cemetery, notice the Cumhuriyet Tarihi Yolu. It is the History of the Republic Road. Marble sculptures flank the road. They mark milestones in Turkey’s rebirth. This is Turkey’s first large-scale sculpture arrangement. The road begins with Atatürk landing in Samsun on May 19, 1919. This symbolizes the start of the War of Independence. Sculptures commemorate the congresses in Erzurum and Sivas. The establishment of the new parliament in Ankara is also represented. Five columns stand in water in the wars section. Inscriptions from Atatürk’s Grand Speech adorn them. A sculpture marks the Peace Treaty of Lausanne. Reliefs depict the foundation of the armed forces. The First and Second İnönü Battles are displayed. The Battle of the Sakarya and the Battle of Dumlupınar are shown. A single abstract sculpture symbolizes the abolition of the caliphate. Rahmi Aksungur led a team of Turkish sculptors to create these artworks.
The graveyard features a funeral ceremony place. Sculpture groups depict scenes from the War of Independence. At the end of the ceremony place stands an octagon structure. It looks like a Turkic yurt. This is the Simge or Symbol. It provides shelter from the elements. Beneath the Simge, a wall memorizes the burials. Their names are carved on it. It looks unfinished. A stone is added for every new president of Turkey. This Anısal Duvar or Memorial Wall expresses the continuity of the republic. A flagpole stands 25 meters tall. It symbolizes the development of the republic.
Inside Yalıncak Cemetery, a museum displays personal belongings. Photos and printed media of the burials are exhibited.
Personalities entitled to be buried here include state presidents. Commanders of the War of Independence also rest here. Parliament later extended the list. Prime ministers and speakers of the parliament are now included. Rahşan Ecevit was the first civilian buried here.
Here lie presidents Cemal Gürsel, Cevdet Sunay, Fahri Korutürk, and Kenan Evren. Prime Ministers Bülent Ecevit and Yıldırım Akbulut are also interred. Speakers of the Parliament Ferruh Bozbeyli and İsmet Sezgin are here.
Yalıncak Cemetery serves as a poignant reminder. It honors the leaders and heroes who shaped modern Turkey. As you leave, remember the stories etched in stone.