'Father of Railways' Behiç Erkin Commemorated at His Grave

Tepebaşı Mayor, Dt. Ahmet Ataç attended the commemoration ceremony held for the 61st death anniversary of Behiç Erkin, the founder and first general manager of the State Railways.

Tepebaşı Mayor, Dt. Ahmet Ataç attended the commemoration ceremony held at the grave of Behiç Erkin, one of the most important heroes of the War of Independence, who played an important role in the victory of the Dardanelles War as the commander in charge of the shipments. President Ataç, President of TCDD Vocational School Alumni Association Uğur Yılmaz, Head of Tombs Association Mehmet Başerdem, and TCDD and TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ employees attended the commemoration, which was held for the 61st death anniversary of Erkin.

“Impossible”

In his speech at the ceremony, President Ataç said, “It has been more than half a century since we lost Behiç Erkin, one of the most important heroes of our War of Independence. This important name, known as the 'Father of Railways', is a statesman who will never be forgotten for us as one of the most important urban memories of Eskişehir. In this context, we showed the sensitivity we show to the values ​​of the city to Behiç Erkin and named an important sports project after him. We find it more appropriate to commemorate unforgettable people who have a place in our city's memory with projects that will immortalize their names. Behiç Erkin is such an important person that it cannot be described. He had so much togetherness and love with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk that; one dies on November 10, the other on November 11. There is such an overlap. We can make these ceremonies even bigger. I commemorate the Turkish politician and diplomat Behiç Erkin, aka the 'Father of Railways', whom we lost on November 11, 1961, with mercy, may their souls rest in peace," he said.

Uğur Yılmaz, President of TCDD Vocational School Alumni Association, said, “We commemorate him with respect and gratitude, promising that we will never forget the importance of the railways entrusted to us, the railwaymen, to this great person who contributed greatly to our country and the railways, and that we, as the real owners of the railways, will protect our institution under all conditions and under difficult conditions. . I would like to thank the Mayor of Tepebaşı, Ahmet Ataç, who gave the name of Behiç Erkin to the sports facility in the Tepebaşı region, made all kinds of maintenance and cleaning of the mausoleum and its surroundings, and made it possible to visit it at all times, and did not spare his effort.”