Courtney Luciana Photo
IIhan Bayram, Kadir Catalbasoglu, and Ali Parcal Friday on the Green.
The Turkish flag was raised on the Green Friday to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic.
Turkish-born New Haveners Kadir Catalbasoglu, IIhan Bayram, and Ali Parcal participated in the event. Catalbasoglu said that with celebrations happening all over, they wanted to contribute on behalf of their country here in the city.
The three men arrived to the city in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. They said they chose to move to New Haven because of knowing people from their country who had already settled in the city. They have known each other for 30 years and keep their culture here alive, together.
They have raised their families here and have run businesses in close proximity. Catalbasoglu runs Brick Oven Pizza on Howe Street and develops housing in town.
“This flag raising means a lot to us — being away from home. We miss home every day. We live here, our kids are here, our businesses are here, our friends are here. But we still can’t forget that place where we were born,” he said. The group sees the flag as symbolizing the freedom their nation found, even as they pursue freedom here in the U.S.
Parcal in New Haven alone, and soon met a Turkish woman whom he later married. Today he is proud to have raised his two children here and to operate another pizza restaurant in the area.
According to Business Turkey Today, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed on July 24, 1923, which stamped the independence of the newly found Turkish state. Essentially, a new country was started out of the ash of the overthrown empire. (To read more click, here.)
As New Haven workers started raising the flag on the Green Friday, Catalbasoglu noticed a homeless couple sitting on the edge of the fountain playing music through a speaker.
“Please allow me to use and play my country’s music for this,” Catalbasoglu. “I will take care of you after.”
The couple agreed and the vibrant Turkish nationalist anthem played along with the flag’s rippling movement through the air. People held their breath as the workers wrestled with raising the flag. When the flag reached the top, tension broke, and everyone cheered for Turkey.
Prospect Hill/Newhallville/Dixwell Alder Steve Winter said he decided to attend after Catalbasoglu had invited him.
“I wanted to show my support for him and for the Turkish community,” Winter said. “And celebrating the foundation of the Turkish republic. We’re such a diverse city. I think there’s so much for us to celebrate, all of the cultures that make New Haven special.”
“We all own properties and businesses here. We pay taxes,” Catalbasoglu said. “So we want to celebrate the 98th anniversary but continue celebrating our Turkish culture here.”
