"Those words reached our souls"

In the first speech at a ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the War at Gallipoli, the President of the Australian Veterans' Group, Anne Kelly, talked in glowing terms of Ataturk. Remembering Ataturk's famous words "Your children have become our children" in regards to the scores of young Australian and New Zealander soldiers killed and then buried at Gallipoli, the president of the Australian Veterans Group, Anne Kelly, said "Those words reached the hearts and souls of Australians." Kelly recalled further in her speech that Australia and Turkey have enjoyed a friendship that has filled the 90 years following the events at Gallipoli, and that it was fitting that the people of the two countries honored the memory of the war together. Kelly said "The 25th of April, or Anzak Day, is the day we honor those who served us in protecting our freedom, and gave their lives doing so. At the same time, we remember the heroism of the brave Turkish soldiers who defended their homeland. All together, we recall what they did for us, we will not forget."  In attendance at the ceremony were Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan, Head of the Armed Forces General Hilmi Ozkok, State Minister Beshir Atalay, Defense Minister Vejdi Gonul, Tourism and Culture Minister Atilla Koc, and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe. From Australia, the Head of Australalian Armed Forces General Peter J. Cosgrove, from New Zealand the head of New Zealand Armed Forces Bruce Ferguson, as well as many other representatives from Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, India, Ireland, South Africa, and England.  PM Erdogan recalls Ataturk's famous words of comfort PM Erdogan spoke at the ceremony, and said that "The story of what happened at Gallipoli represents a miraculous blend of human spirit and patriotism," and that Gallipoli was the first place that the heart beat of the Turkish was heard. PM Erdogan remembered Ataturk's renowned words of comfort to the soldiers from foreign countries killed at Gallipoli: "You heroes who have lost your blood in this land, you find yourselves in a friendly land. Rest in peace. You are laid to rest along side Turkish soldiers. Mothers who have sent you sons to a far away land, stop your tears. Your sons lie with us. They, in giving their lives on this land, have become our children." Â