Gallipoli: lifelong dedication
13Friday 24 April, 2015 by Uncle Spike
This is my second post about the one hundred year anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War One. Large official centennial memorial services are being held at Gallipoli, and around the woırld, especially in Australia and New Zealand; but here’s an unusual story that you may not have heard…
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I saw this brief article about an old man who’s life’s work was tending the graves of his homeland’s former enemies. If you can spare two minutes, it’s a simple, moving tale of a man called Veli Ayhan.
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Uncle Spike's Adventures 
A touching story. I’ve lived in Turkey for some years and I have met many warm, friendly, hospitable Turks, willing to go the extra mile for a foreigner in their country.
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Glad toı hear that Alan. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on Cryptic Garland click here and commented:
I wanted to post this a few days ago but Uncle Spike beat me to it while I was going on about Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour. It is a really good thing to look at both sides of a penny.
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Good link Spike!
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[…] I was trying to figure out what to write about ANZAC Day this year, I came across this great post that Uncle Spike shared of an ABC story of a man who’s life was remarkably affected by this […]
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Thank you so much for sharing this .. What a wonderful tribute to a fine man!
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What a touching, moving story, such a simple man but a man full of wisdom, can’t get much better than that. Thankyou Veli Ayhan for all your hard work dedication in looking after our fellow Aussies, you truly are a beautiful soul a great example to us all. God bless you! Thanks for sharing this story I will pass it on to many….
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Thank you too.
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Thank you!! What a remarkable and dedicated man.
A treasure to Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.
I have just returned from the Dawn Service here in Brisbane.
Never have I seen a more incredible crowd of people
acclaiming what happened to our two countries 100 years
ago. There must have been over 10,000 people jam packed
into the area – you could not move an inch. So stood for 2 1/2 hours
for the ceremony – well it didn’t go that long but to have a reasonable
place to TRY to view that was necessary. You could have
heard a pin drop from the start of the proceedings to the end.
Thankfully it was a mild morning – only got a bit nippy when the sun
started to rise.
Turkey was represented by the Consul-General of Turkey – a lady, who
with the others of the official party laid beautiful wreaths at the flame
of Remembrance.
So now after my 2.00 am wake up – now 6.40 am, I will go back to bed
and get up for the service at Gallipoli in 4 hours time – LIVE COVERAGE.
I raise my glass in salute of your remarkable tender of the graves.
Salute
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
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Just watched direct on TV the ceremony.
Like all capitals here in Australia, Gallipoli was blessed
on this day with perfect weather.
It was indeed a very moving ceremony and the sea looked
so peaceful with the warships anchored off the coastline.
I think God has blessed Turkey, Australia and New Zealand
with sublime weather for this 100th Anniversary.
Mr Veki Ayhan and his wonderful dedication has been rewarded.
Thank you Spike – thank you Turkey.
Colin
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Thanks Colin
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A beautiful and exceptionatly well presented tribute to caring man, a common man so diametrically opposite that of the far too many and still prevelent perpetrators of hatred and war.
Thanks for this, Uncle Spike, and the awareness of Gallipoli. M 🙂
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It was from an Australian media site actually, and I agree, such a beautifully presented tribute.
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