The Mehter Band (Ottoman Military Band) of the Ministry of National Defence performed at Times Square, one of New York City’s busiest landmarks, as part of the 43rd Turkish Day Parade organised this year in New York under the coordination of the Directorate of Communications.
Colonel Deniz Ergün, Commander of the Mehter Band of the Ministry of National Defence, told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that the Mehter Band represents the voice of the heroic Turkish army echoing across continents from history to the present day.
Expressing his satisfaction with the strong public interest during the performance, Ergün said: “We witnessed tremendous interest from both Turks living here and everyone present in this square, especially given that it is such a popular tourist destination.”
Chairman of the Justice Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and AK Party MP for İstanbul Cüneyt Yüksel, also thanked everyone who contributed to the Mehter Band concert in Times Square, where people from many different nations gathered. Yüksel stated: “I would like to convey this message here: while some turn their backs on the Mehter, we are presenting both its historical and universal message here today.”
Among those watching the performance was AK Party İzmir MP Ceyda Bölünmez Çankırı, who noted that the strong interest shown in the New York Turkish Day Parade and the Mehter Band performance was closely linked to Türkiye’s success in foreign policy.
