Washington DC: The 86th anniversary of the passing of modern Trkiye's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was commemorated in the US on Sunday. The Turkish Embassy in Washington DC organized a ceremony to honor Ataturk, attended by Turkish Ambassador Sedat Onal, embassy staff, and members of the Turkish community residing in the US. According to Anadolu Agency, the attendees observed two minutes of silence at 9.05 a.m. local time, marking the exact moment of Ataturk's death at the age of 57, followed by the singing of the Turkish national anthem. Ambassador Onal described Ataturk as a leader dedicated to the Turkish nation, emphasizing his unique ability to remain current with his principles and vision. The Turkish War of Independence began with Ataturk's arrival in Samsun on the Black Sea coast in 1919. The liberation of Anatolia from occupation marked a new era in Turkish history, leading to the recognition of the new country under the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. On October 29, 1923, Ataturk declared the nati on a republic and was unanimously elected as the first president by the Grand National Assembly. He served as president until his death on November 10, 1938, in Istanbul.