By Janet Ekstract
NEW YORK- On Tuesday, in an official proclamation, the Mayor of Washington D.C. Muriel Bowser, declared October as Turkish Heritage Month. Bowser said Turkish Heritage Month is a way to build bridges and strengthen friendships between Turkish and non-Turkish Americans. She added that the first Turkish Heritage Month was celebrated 11 years ago in Washington D.C.. Bowser explained that the Turkish capital Ankara and America’s capital city are sister cities with over 20,000 Turkish-Americans living in D.C. and surrounding states.
The mayor explained that the U.S. and Turkiye “have traditionally been strong allies, and Americans of Turkish descent in the District of Columbia have played a significant role in the educational, cultural, economic and civic development of our community.”. In October, the nation’s capital also hosts a traditional Turkish festival organized by the American-Turkish Association of Washington D.C. also known as ATA-DC. This year’s Turkish festival celebrates it’s 20th anniversary. The festival takes place October 16 on Pennsylvania Avenue.
