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Türkiye commemorates people killed in July 15 defeated coup

Since its designation in October 2016, every year the nation marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

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Sgt. Bülent Aydın was dubbed "the first martyr" of the night of July 15, in line with official records. Aydın worked at the Special Operations Department and though he was eligible for retirement five years before the fateful day, he kept working because "he was still young," in his own words. Resisting the coup plotters, he tried to hold onto the Turkish flag in front of the General Staff headquarters. Aydın, 47, was also married and had two children.