“The Tale of Two Martyrs: Named for the Wells”
Two oil fields in Gabar have been named after two martyrs – Petty Officer Esma Çevik and the martyr teacher Aybüke Yalçın. These names will stay with Gabar forever, but who were these two young women and why were the wells named after them? Let’s take a closer look.
A music teacher, Aybüke Yalçın was born in the Ottomank district of Çorum in 1994. She moved to Edremit with her family and showed a talent for music at a young age. After becoming a music teacher, she was transferred to the Kozluk Multi-Program Anatolian High School in Kozluk, Batman, in 2016. There, she was determined to make music education accessible to all and established a music class for the first time in Kozluk, achieving in seven months what could not be achieved in 70 years. Unfortunately, on June 9, 2017, after distributing report cards, Aybüke was killed by a single bullet that hit her heart during gunfire while on her way to the district.
Esma Çevik was born in 1988 into a family that migrated from Hayrabolu to Istanbul and grew up in Bayrampaşa. She only dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but was unable to pursue her studies due to her father’s death. To take care of her mother and sisters, she became a petty officer and, following the Thrace customs, was sent off with henna on her hands with a soldier’s wedding. She became a commando and went to a bomb disposal course. Tragically, during her first duty station in Şırnak, Esma was martyred when the bomb exploded while she was attempting to destroy it.
These two young women exemplify the spirit and courage of those who sacrifice their lives for their country. The wells named after them will serve as a permanent reminder of their bravery and sacrifice, and serve as an inspiration for future generations. May their memories be honored and their legacies never forgotten.
