8.59am

"Peace at home, Peace in the world."
- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 1881-1938

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish army officer in the Ottoman military, revolutionary statesman, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey. Wikipedia

Up early this morning to be in school by 8.30am for the special Remembrance Ceremony to commemorate the passing of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who died on this day, 10th November 1938 at 9.05am. Our ceremony began just after 9am with three minutes silence during which the sirens outside loudly wailed their lamentation. A thousand students and their teachers utterly silent and still as they stand and remember - and in doing so demonstrate the lasting influence of a man who was a strong, natural leader of men and "Father of the Nation".

After some powerful spoken words, the ceremony continued with my two music colleagues, Koray and Deniz, and several students, filling the air with the glorious sound of traditional Turkish songs - and then, it was all over for another year.