Mersin Martyrs' Memorial


Mersin Martyrs' Memorial, also known as the Monument of the Refah Martyrs is a monument in Mersin, Turkey

Geography

The monument is situated in Atatürk Park of Mersin about from the Mediterranean Sea coast at.

Commemoration

Although the popular name of the monument refers to Refah Tragedy, actually the monument memorializes two different marine events
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 yard. The outer dimensions of the monument are 10×10 m2 Its door faces northwest On its three other walls there are inscriptions. One inscription is about Refah tragedy, one is about the message of Fevzi Çakmak, the chief of staff during the Refah tragedy. The third inscription is about the Ertuğrul frigate. On this inscription, the Kushimoto monument is mentioned.