Mayor Genç pays tribute to Harmantepe Martyrs: Remaining 6 km road to be completed

Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç attended the Harmantepe Martyrs Commemoration Program held in the Köprübaşı district. Emphasizing that protecting the memory of the martyrs is a shared responsibility, Mayor Genç announced that the remaining 6-kilometer section of the road providing access to Harmantepe will be completed soon. The ceremony was attended by Trabzon Governor Tahir Şahin, Chairman of the TBMM Public Works, Reconstruction, Transportation and Tourism Commission and Trabzon Deputy Adil Karaismailoğlu, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Bahittin Murat Yakın, Provincial Police Director Ali Loğoğlu, district protocol, relatives of the martyrs, and many citizens. During the program, the Quran was recited and prayers were offered for 150 soldiers aged 18 and above and 7 officers who fell as martyrs in Harmantepe 110 years ago. Mayor Genç highlighted the importance of passing on the sacred memory of the martyrs to future generations, stating, "Today, we commemorate our heroes who made these lands a homeland at the cost of their blood and lives 110 years ago in Harmantepe. Commemorating our martyrs is not just a duty but a sacred responsibility we must pass on to future generations."

Mayor Genç noted that the annual commemoration programs held in Harmantepe, Sultanmurat, and Çataltepe carry great significance, emphasizing that the gratitude owed to the martyrs for preserving independence must always be kept alive. He mentioned that the families of martyrs who attended the program from Kayseri exemplified the finest expressions of this sense of gratitude. Referring to the concrete road works initiated on the Harmantepe road as promised last year, Mayor Genç announced that 4 kilometers of the total 9.9-kilometer road have been completed. Stating that the works, which were paused due to weather conditions, have resumed, Genç expressed that the remaining approximately 6-kilometer section will be completed shortly. He also stated that in response to requests from citizens, they will initiate work to illuminate the Harmantepe Martyrs' Cemetery, saying, "It is our duty to make this place worthy of the memory of our martyrs with its road, lighting, and landscaping."

The commemoration program concluded with Quran recitation and prayers. Emotional moments were experienced during the ceremony as relatives of the martyrs and participants prayed in memory of the fallen. Mayor Genç's announcements were welcomed with satisfaction by the local population. The completion of the road works will facilitate access to Harmantepe and enable more visits to the cemetery. The lighting project will also contribute to making the cemetery more visible and safer at night.

The Harmantepe Martyrs are soldiers who fell 110 years ago during the Ottoman-Russian war. The region hosts annual commemoration programs due to its historical significance. As Mayor Genç emphasized, keeping the memory of the martyrs alive and passing it on to future generations is a societal responsibility. Such events contribute to maintaining national consciousness and reinforcing love for the homeland.

In conclusion, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality's tribute project for the Harmantepe Martyrs is considered an important step through both infrastructure works and commemorative events. With the completion of the road and lighting projects, the cemetery will become more modern and accessible. This will create an environment befitting the memory of our martyrs and increase the number of visitors.