Commemoration of the Second Anniversary Of the Terrorist Attack on the U.S. Consulate General

July 9, 2010

Plaque in honor of the three brave Turkish National Police Officers

We honor the memory of the three brave Turkish National Police officers – Nedim Çalık, Erdal Öztaş and Mehmet Önder Saçmalıoğlu -- who were killed by terrorists who attacked the Consulate General on July 9, 2008.  Nedim, Erdal and Mehmet Bey sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.  They are a great credit to all Turkish National Police officers who defend our Consulate daily under our mutual international treaty obligations.  We also express our profound gratitude to Turkish National Police officer  Osman Dağlı and Trafik Vakfı driver Ferit Özcan who were wounded in the attack.  We are thankful that they have recovered.  Working together, Turkish and American security personnel saved the lives of all of the Turkish and American employees working in our Consulate, Turkish visa applicants and visitors at the Consulate that morning, and the many people who live and work on our street which has been renamed Üçşehitler Sokağı in honor of Nedim, Erdal and Mehmet Bey.   

The attack on the Consulate shocked and saddened all of us.  We offer our deepest condolences to the Çalık, Öztaş and Saçmalıoğlu families.  Our thoughts and prayers are always with them.  For their heroic actions on July 9, 2008, we owe these brave policemen a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay and will never forget.  Their courage reminds us all what is required by citizens of free nations like Turkey and the United States as we work together to fight the scourge of terrorism wherever it strikes so that our people can live in a more peaceful and tolerant world.