Melikgazi Mayor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Palancıoğlu issued a message for the 12th of March, the Day of the Adoption of the National Anthem and Commemoration of Mehmet Akif Ersoy. President Palancıoğlu included the following statements in his message: "We celebrate the 105th anniversary of the adoption of the National Anthem, which immortalizes the Turkish nation's struggle for independence, by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on March 12, 1921. This epic anthem, which is a translator of our nation's feelings..." The work is a reflection in unique verses of the great heroism shown by our nation, imbued with love for our homeland, nation, and independence, against those who covet these sacred values. Our patriotic poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who played an important role in the independence process and translated the feelings of our people with his unique verses, immortalized the heroism of the Turkish Nation with our National Anthem. The National Anthem, which best describes our national and spiritual values, our passion for independence, our love for the flag, and what we can achieve when we are one heart as a nation, gives hope and courage to our nation today, just as it did during the National Struggle. If we live freely and independently on these lands today, we owe it to our ancestors who made these lands our homeland at the cost of their lives. With these feelings and thoughts, we celebrate the 105th anniversary of the adoption of our National Anthem, and we commemorate our patriotic poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, and especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, for their contributions to independence. I commemorate all the heroes of our struggle, our martyrs and veterans, with mercy and gratitude. May their souls rest in peace."