Our Minister of Family and Social Services, Derya Yanık, stated that it is pleasing that Korean War Veteran Selçuk Fidegül, a resident of Seyranbağları Nursing Home Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Centre, was presented with a medal accompanied by the Korean Ambassador to Ankara and Korean diplomats.
A ceremony was held at Seyranbağları Nursing Home Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Centre for the award of a medal by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Korean War Veteran Selçuk Fidegül as part of the International Day of Older Persons.
Derya Yanık, Minister of Family and Social Services, Won Ik Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ankara, and Korean War Veteran Ali Cengiz Türkoğul, one of the residents of the nursing home, were also present at the ceremony.
In her speech at the ceremony, Minister Yanık said that the focus of their work is to ensure that all citizens benefit from equal opportunities.
Indicating that they do not wait for citizens to come to the Ministry for service, Yanık stated that they took action to meet the needs they identified during direct visits and conversations.
Indicating that their work for the relatives of martyrs and veterans has a special place in these works, Yanık emphasized that the spiritual side of the work is extremely important and valuable for them.
More than 27 thousand older persons are provided with care services in 450 institutions
Explaining that they provide care services to more than 27 thousand older persons in 450 institutions with a total capacity of 37 thousand all over Türkiye, Yanık continued as follows:
“We are in the peace and happiness of hosting older persons by providing them with all the social facilities they need. We attach great importance to your ability to transform the life experiences of esteemed older persons into a sentence of judgment. That's why, as the Ministry, we attach great importance to you, esteemed older persons, to come together with our young people and to provide them with that experience. We continue to work on this. Our nation is a nation that works not only for its own country, but also for the peace and security of the whole world, and never stops doing whatever it takes."
"We are witnessing a great history in their memories"
Minister Yanık stated that Turkish soldiers were welcomed by the people with joy and happiness in the Middle East, Afghanistan, the Balkans and at different points where there was any confusion. Noting that the Turkish soldiers, who did not hesitate 72 years ago to contribute to world peace, went to Korea, fulfilled their duties and returned to Türkiye with honour, Yanık continued:
“We are glad that two of these precious veterans are with us today. We witness a great history in their memories. Together, we will experience the pride of conferring the medal sent by the South Korean State to our esteemed older person and veteran, Selçuk Fidegül. For esteemed older persons, who set out in 1950 with the decision of the Assembly, medals or certificates cannot, of course, be a reward for sacrifices. However, I would like to express that we welcome the efforts of the South Korean State to deliver these medals to those who deserve it, despite the 72 years that have passed. It is also a pleasure for me to see that this medal of great symbolic value reaches its hero, accompanied by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and Korean diplomats who are with us today. On this occasion, I wish God's mercy once again to all our Korean martyrs and veterans who were with the oppressed and victims and sacrificed their lives in a geography where they did not know the language and conditions of that day. I wish our veteran Selçuk Fidegül and all our veterans a good and long life."
"These medals are an expression of determination to stand against the oppressor"
Indicating that they mobilized all means to protect and glorify the nation with the strength they received from the nation, Yanık said: "These medals, which were presented to our hero veteran today, honour us as much as you do. These medals, which you will pass on from generation to generation as a badge of pride, are an expression of the determination of this beloved nation to stand with the oppressed and against the oppressor.”
After the speeches, Minister Yanık and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Won Ik Lee presented a medal to the 97-year-old Korean War veteran Selçuk Fidegül, one of the residents of the nursing home, and presented the Holy Quran to another resident of the nursing home, Korean War Veteran Ali Cengiz Türkoğul.
“I was young, I wanted to save the Turkish nation”
Receiving the Korean Veteran medal after 72 years, Fidegül said:
“"I received the medal with a very beautiful ceremony. I am very pleased. At the time, we returned the USA medals because they made a contrary speech about Türkiye. This medal I received in Türkiye was more effective for me. I went to Korea when I was 27 years old. I was young, I wanted to save the Turkish nation. I was a soldier, I was sent by the Turkish Armed Forces General Staff. I was very satisfied with that. They did me a favor."
As part of the program, Seyranbağları Nursing Home Genç Büyükler Turkish Folk Music Choir gave a concert. At the concert, a nursing home resident in the choir sang the song "Adanalı" for Minister Derya Yanık.