Turkish Day Celebration Held at New York State Capitol
Celebrations for the second annual Turkish Day, celebrated in New York State, were held on May 30 at the New York State Capitol building.
At the celebration the Brooklyn Amity School, founded by Turkish entrepreneurs and widely acclaimed for winning numerous medals in New York's statewide Science Olympics, was awarded a certificate of achievement by the New York State Congress. One-hundred and fifty members of the state legislature also attended the ceremony.
The Brooklyn and Long Island Amity School is an "honor for New York," said State Assembly Member Ivan Lafayette, who represents New York City's Queens district, praising the school's positive contribution to education. The chairman of the congressional gathering said that he was very happy to see Turkish and American students together under the roof of the senate building. "You honor us with your great success," Lafayette said.
A first in the history of New York
The New York Legislature invited students and faculty from a Turkish school to the state capitol building, the first time a Turkish school visited the building in the state's history.
"I would like to welcome Amity School, which won 28 medals in the Science Olympics," Lafeyette said. "We are sure of both our state and our country's future with these students. I would like to thank every student who won medals in the competition and their teachers as well."
Celebrations for Turkish Day were held in the evening at the state capitol on the same day. At the celebration, Turkish food was served and state assembly members were provided with information on Turkey. The program was organized by Turkish-American Multicultural Educational Foundation (TAMEF). The Turkish and US national anthems were performed by the students of Amity School.
Brochures and CDs about Turkey and Turkish schools were distributed throughout the day. The importance of education and tolerance, which has been stressed by Fethullah Gülen, was underlined. Attendants were informed about Turkish schools opened around the world and their contribution to global peace and friendship.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül sent a message to the event, stressing the importance of activities such as this. "I believe in the importance of such activities to create solidarity between our citizens and kin; to express ourselves to the American public correctly," he said. (Sezai Kalayci, New York)
- Created on .