What is a State Cemetery? Who is buried in the State Cemetery? Where is the State Cemetery?

The State Cemetery is known as the final resting place of many important names who have left their mark in the history of the Republic of Turkey. The cemetery, which consists of a ceremonial area, museum, sculptures and parts, was put into service in 1988. So, where is the State Cemetery and who can be buried in this cemetery?

What is a State Cemetery? Who is buried in the State Cemetery?

The State Cemetery is a "monument-park, which was opened in 1988, where the graves of 61 commanders who were at least a division commander during the Turkish War of Independence and the presidents of the Republic of Turkey, and who met the political criteria of the General Staff in 1988 (Example: Sakallı Nurettin Pasha was not found suitable for the political criteria). It is a cemetery. It was built by Evren, who came to power with the September 12 Coup, with the idea that "Anıtkabir is not a cemetery, the presidents and the commanders who were close friends of Atatürk were seen to be of great use in the War of Independence together". It is located in Ankara, within the land of Atatürk Orman Çiftliği. Located on an area of ​​536.000 square meters and 356.000 square meters of green space, the park is open to the public. It is administered by the Ministry of National Defense.

The Law No. 6, dated 1981 November 2549, for the construction of the State Cemetery in Turkey was published in the Official Gazette on 11 November 1981. Y. Eng. selected among 1982 projects as a result of the competition opened by the Ministry of National Defense in 42 for the cemetery. With Architect Özgür Ecevit, Y. Agricultural Eng. Ekrem Gürenli's project was implemented. In this project, ostentatious tombs were avoided in accordance with Islamic culture, non-functional monumental forms were not used, and care was taken not to create a sad atmosphere. It was opened on 30 August 1988 with a state ceremony.

With the legal arrangement made in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 8 November 2006, the heads of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as well as the prime ministers were buried in the State Cemetery upon the request of their families. Mustafa Bülent Ecevit was the first prime minister (11 November 2006) to be buried in this way, apart from the president and staff commanders.

Where is the State Cemetery?

It is located in Ankara, within the land of Atatürk Orman Çiftliği. Located on an area of ​​536.000 square meters and 356.000 square meters of green space, the park is open to the public.

The Law No. 6, dated 1981 November 2549, for the construction of the State Cemetery in Turkey was published in the Official Gazette on 11 November 1981.

With the Amendment, Speakers of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Prime Ministers were also buried

With the legal arrangement made in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 8 November 2006, the heads of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as well as the prime ministers were buried in the State Cemetery upon the request of their families. Bülent Ecevit was the first prime minister to be buried in this way, apart from the president and staff commanders, on 11 November 2006.

Whose Grave Is in the State Cemetery?

Some of the names buried in the State Cemetery so far are as follows;

4th President Cemal Gürsel
5th President Cevdet Sunay
6th President Fahri Koruturk
7th President Kenan Evren
12. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Sabit Osman Avcı
Kemal Guven, Speaker of the 13th Parliament
18. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey İsmet Sezgin
16. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit

In addition to politicians, this list includes 61 names with the rank of colonel, lieutenant colonel, major general, general and marshal.

State Cemetery

Republic History Road
In the park, important events in the history of the country from May 19, 1919 to the establishment of the Republic were animated with statues and symbols. This area, called the "Republican History Road", is the first large-scale sculpture arrangement in Turkey. 600 tons of Marmara marble was used for this arrangement. Sculptures in the cemetery, Prof. Dr. Made by Rahmi Aksungur. The following sculpture artists also contributed to the implementation of the sculpture arrangement: Ayla Aksungur, Ömer Yavuz, Elvide Akdağ, Ulaş Korkmaz, Mustafa Yılmaz, Deniz Erol, Ferit Yazıcı.

The first statue on the Cumhuriyet History Road is a rock that represents Atatürk's ascent to Samsun. The shadow of the rock reveals the silhouette of Samsun port on the map. A hole in the rock causes a light to appear in the shadow. Especially between 11.00-14.00 hours, this light appears as Atatürk's profile. Thus, Atatürk's exit to Samsun was animated as a light falling on the ground. After the May 19 section, there is the “Congress Section”. The two steps in this section symbolize the establishment of the Assembly as a result of the Congresses. There are 5 columns in the “Wars Section” after the Congresses section. There are words from Nutuk on the columns. The statue at the end of the chapter symbolizes the Treaty of Lausanne; each of the reliefs on the right and left depicts a war. In the last sculpture section, “Republic” is symbolized by a single abstract sculpture.

State Cemetery Museum
In the museum located in the State Cemetery, the belongings, pictures and magazines belonging to the Presidents and the Commanders of the War of Independence are exhibited.

Black Sea Pool
The pool called "Black Sea Pool", built by Atatürk in 1931, was restored during the construction of the State Cemetery. Its surroundings are used as a relaxation pool.

Parade ground
There is a structure designed in the form of a "otağ tent" on the ceremonial area within the borders of the cemetery. This octagonal planned structure, called the "Icon", protects the ceremony area from sun and rain. The “Remembrance Wall” below the icon looks like an unfinished wall made up of the names of those buried in the cemetery. For each new President of the Republic of Turkey, a new stone is placed and the construction continues. Thus, the continuity of the Republic is expressed.

There are two statue groups symbolizing the War of Independence on both sides of the ceremonial road leading to the burial areas, a statue symbolizing the development of the republic in the Presidents' burial area and a 25-meter-long flagpole.