Citizen who saw Atatürk speaks for the first time: 'It is not an experience granted to everyone'

99-year-old Hüseyin Ali Ogan, who worked in farming for many years, continues his life with his daughter and grandchildren in the Aşağışakran neighborhood of Aliağa district.

Speaking to an AA reporter, Hüseyin Ali Ogan expressed that he was very excited in the 1930s when it was announced that Atatürk would pass through their village.

'HE GREETED US'

Stating that he was still a child at that time, Ogan said, "When Atatürk came, he passed by us. The cavalry was there. He greeted us."

When asked, "Were you happy when you saw him?", Ogan became emotional and could not hold back his tears while saying, "The children were always there..."

Explaining that he saw Atatürk once on a white horse and once in a jeep, Ogan said, "There was a fountain and an olive tree, he came there. When he saw us, he got out of the car from 20 meters away. It was an old car, like a jeep. Seeing Atatürk is not an experience granted to everyone," he stated.

'IT IS NOT AN EXPERIENCE GRANTED TO EVERYONE'

Hüseyin Ali Ogan's 43-year-old grandson Uğur Çakar said that his childhood was spent listening to his grandfather's memories of seeing Atatürk.

Stating that they enjoy listening to stories about Atatürk from his grandfather, Çakar said, "I have been listening to these from my grandfather since I was ten years old. My grandfather is now approaching 100 years old and thank God he can still take care of his own needs.

He recounts the time he saw Atatürk with the same excitement even now. He cries every time he tells it. He lives and tells it as if it were today. Of course, seeing Atatürk is not an experience granted to everyone. Our childhood was spent hearing these, and I am very happy that my grandfather has such a memory," he said.