The program began with a photography exhibition held in the foyer of the PAU Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Yılmaz Congress and Culture Center, followed by the conference titled “The Will Is Ours, the Victory Is Ours”, delivered by retired Assistant Professor Mehmet Kazım Kara as the guest speaker. Members of the Denizli protocol, academic staff, and administrative personnel attended the program.
The conference began with a moment of silence and the singing of the Turkish National Anthem, followed by the opening speech delivered by Rector Prof. Mahmud Güngör.
Rector: “I am speaking at this podium not only as a rector. I am also speaking as a father whose heart was in Ankara that night.”
In his speech, Rector Prof. Mahmud Güngör stated: “There are certain nights in the history of nations that go beyond being merely a date on the calendar and become epics of faith, courage, and honor passed down through generations. July 15 is such a night in the memory of our nation. That night, darkness believed it could silence the light through the power of weapons. However, there was one truth that could not be calculated: the spirit of these lands is founded upon independence. The hearts of this nation are filled with faith. And the character of those who have grown up under the shadow of this flag is defined not by surrender, but by resistance. Denizli became one of the strongest cities of this blessed resistance. Thousands of our fellow citizens who filled the squares stood up for democracy and the national will. That night, Denizli showed all of Türkiye that the spirit of Çanakkale is still alive. In Ankara, one of our strategic institutions, the Türksat facilities, was among the targets of the treacherous coup plotters. They believed that if they could silence communication, they could silence the nation. But there was one thing they failed to foresee… The sons and daughters of this nation loved their homeland too deeply to abandon their posts. The heroes serving at Türksat that night prevented broadcasts and communications from being interrupted by risking their lives. Some embraced martyrdom, some became veterans, but none of them took a step back. I am speaking at this podium not only as a rector. I am also speaking as a father whose heart was in Ankara that night. My son, Muhammet Musa Güngör, was on duty at Türksat that night. As the hours passed, the news grew more alarming, the sounds of explosions echoed through television screens, telephones occasionally fell silent, and hearts beat even faster. On one side was my son fulfilling his duty… On the other was a father trying to reach him. Believe me, that night not only I, but thousands of mothers and fathers experienced the same emotions. A child's duty to the homeland and a father's prayer rose to the heavens at the same time. I offer endless thanks to Almighty God that my son completed his duty safely. But that night, many mothers and fathers lost their children as martyrs. Therefore, as I speak today, I carry not only my own feelings but also the sacred memory entrusted to us by the families of our martyrs. This nation knows that the homeland is not merely a piece of land upon which we live. The homeland is the call to prayer, the flag, the family, memory, and a sacred trust. Protecting that trust is one of the deepest characteristics of this nation. July 15 taught us that the homeland is not protected only by its borders. Never forget that if a nation forgets its past, it cannot find a solid foundation upon which to entrust its future. For this reason, July 15 is the night when courage defeated fear, when hope triumphed over despair, and when treachery was overcome by the conscience of the nation. This year's meaningful theme, ‘The Will Is Ours, the Victory Is Ours,’ is not merely a slogan but the essence of our nation's struggle throughout history. Our nation's thousand-year journey demonstrates that victories do not begin with weapons; they first take root in the heart. From Malazgirt to Çanakkale, from the National Struggle to July 15, the same spirit, the same faith, and the same determination have been passed down from generation to generation. History has changed, battlefields have changed, and challenges have changed, but the values that sustain the dignity of our nation have never changed. As Pamukkale University, our responsibility is not only to remember this great legacy, but also to understand it, explain it, and pass it on correctly to future generations. Our greatest goal is to educate our young people, regardless of the profession they pursue, as individuals who feel a sense of responsibility toward their country, stand by the truth, prioritize justice, and uphold the values of their nation. On this occasion, I commemorate with mercy, gratitude, and endless appreciation our beloved martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the homeland on the night of July 15, and I wish our heroic veterans good health, well-being, and long lives.”
Following the opening speech, the program continued with the conference titled “The Will Is Ours, the Victory Is Ours” delivered by retired Assistant Professor Mehmet Kazım Kara. At the end of the program, Rector Prof. Mahmud Güngör presented Mehmet Kazım Kara with a certificate of appreciation.
Following the conference, the commemoration events continued with the serving of roasted meat, rice pilaf, and ayran in front of the Müftü Ahmet Hulusi Efendi Mosque Complex. After the refreshments, a sermon and prayer were offered by Prof. İbrahim Kutluay, a faculty member of the PAU Faculty of Theology, in memory of the July 15 martyrs and all martyrs.
