12th Annual Lebanon Day Celebrating the 80th Independence of Lebanon Cleveland City Hall November 17, 2023
The American Lebanese Community Council is a 501(C)(3) non profit organization, created for all of Lebanese descent and their families regardless of their political affiliation or religion. This organization was created with the following objectives:
To preserve, enrich, and promote our Lebanese heritage and traditions through educational, cultural, and charitable activities
To establish and maintain the Lebanese Cultural Garden, at the Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation
To interact with local communities to increase public awareness of the Lebanese culture
To create understanding and unity among the Lebanese people and the community
They hosted the 12th annual Lebanon Day in Cleveland at an event in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall. All day the flag of Lebanon flew above Cleveland City Hall and was displayed in the Rotunda.
Souad Kaddah served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
Souad Kaddah
She welcomed the crowd and then introduced the singing of the national anthems of the United States and then Lebanon.
Nemr Soueidi singing the anthems
Next there were invocations from Father Elias Yazbeck, Pastor of St. Maron Church, and Imam Ramez Islambouli from CWRU.
Father Elias Yazbeck
Imam Ramez Islambouli
Next, Angela Shute-Woodson, representing Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, gave her welcome on behalf of the Mayor and City. She gave a proclamation to the evening's honoree, Mayor Cyril Kleem of Berea.
Souad Kaddah, Angela Shute-Woodson, Mayor Cyril Kleem and Pierre Bejjani
She also presented a proclamation to American Lebanese Community Council Chairman Pierre Bejjani.
Angela Shute-Woodson and Pierre Bejjani
Ohio State Representative Tom Patton presented a proclamation to Mayor Kleem.
Ohio State Representative Tom Patton, Mayor Kleem and Pierre Bejjani
Ohio State Representative Tom Patton, Souad Kaddah, Mayor Cyril Kleem and Pierre Bejjani
Ohio State Representative Tom Patton and Mayor Cyril Kleem
ALCC Chairman Pierre Bejjani spoke about Mayor Kleem and presented a proclamation.
ALCC Chairman Pierre Bejjani
Souad Kaddah, Mayor Cyril Kleem and Pierre Bejjani
Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem
Next MC Souad Kaddah introduced Melissa Kleem, wife of the Mayor.
Souad Kaddah
Melissa Kleem
Then Mayor Kleem gave his acceptance remarks.
Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem
Watch a video of the presentations and remarks listed above.
A delicious dinner was served and music was played by DJ Wassim.
DJ Wassim
Pierre Bejjani introduced belly dancer Amina as a special feature. Watch a video of her performance.
Amina
Enjoy these other images from Lebanon Day 2023 at Cleveland City Hall.
Tony Abdulkarim, Dr. Wael Khoury and Mayor Cyril Kleem
Pierre Bejjani and Councilman Danny Kelly
Mayor Cyril Kleem group
Lebanon Day Committee members
Mayor Cyril Kleem group with Nemr Soueidi and Tony Abdulkarim
Happy Lebanon Day!
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