Type Memorial | Opening date June 23, 1971 | |
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Location Atatürk Park, Mersin, Turkey Similar Mersin Bus Terminus, Mersin Olympic Swimmin, Mersin Tennis Complex, Mersin Gymnastics Hall, Tarsus City Stadium | ||
Mersin Martyrs' Memorial (Turkish: Şehitler Anıtı), also known as the Monument of the Refah Martyrs is a monument in Mersin, Turkey
Contents
Geography
The monument is situated in Atatürk Park of Mersin about 20 metres (66 ft) from the Mediterranean Sea coast at 36°47′37″N 34°37′43″E.
Commemoration
Although the popular name of the monument refers to Refah Tragedy, actually the monument memorializes two different marine events
Construction history
When Celal Eyiveoğlu, the commander of the Turkish Naval Forces paid an official visit to Japan in 1970, he visited a monument in Kushimoto Turkish Memorial and Museum to commemorate the Ertuğrul event. He was inspired and after returning home, he persuaded Mersin governorship and municipality to erect a similar monument in Mersin The monument was officially opened on 23 June 1972
Monument
The monument resembles a fat obelisk. It is in an 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft) yard. The outer dimensions of the monument are 10×10 m2 ( 37.7×32.7 ft 2) Its door faces northwest (i.e., city center) On its three other walls there are inscriptions. One (southwest) inscription is about Refah tragedy, one (southwest) is about the message of Fevzi Çakmak, the chief of staff during the Refah tragedy. The third inscription (northeast) is about the Ertuğrul frigate. On this inscription, the Kushimoto monument is mentioned.