What sort of expressions does a foreigner use to be respectfully considerate of 18 March and its significance? 

What IS the March 18th thing?  My husband mentioned he is unable to leave his military post for the one day this weekend because of a ´holiday´, but I don´t know what it is??

Turkey: March 18 Canakkale Naval Victory Day

BayBak, Azerbaijan | Thursday, 18th March , 2010 , 11:38 [am] | Azerbaijan

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“More than 250 thousand martyrs, who sacrificed themselves in Çanakkale to defend our independence against enemies trying to erase our nation from the pages of history, are our heroes that will live beyond history, just like our great poet Mehmet Akif says.” Chief of General Staff General İlker Başbuğ said:

Quoting spritzer

Turkey: March 18 Canakkale Naval Victory Day

BayBak, Azerbaijan | Thursday, 18th March , 2010 , 11:38 [am] | Azerbaijan

.

“More than 250 thousand martyrs, who sacrificed themselves in Çanakkale to defend our independence against enemies trying to erase our nation from the pages of history, are our heroes that will live beyond history, just like our great poet Mehmet Akif says.” Chief of General Staff General İlker Başbuğ said:

This is the total number, according to records;

-50-60 thousand people died in the battle of gallipoli from Turkish side.

-100 thousand people wounded(50 % of them returned to war even fought in Arabia and different fronts of WW1).

-21 thousand people died because of disease.

-64 thousand people escaped the army.

-10 thousand people lost.