press releases 2007
U.S. Ambassador Celebrates 4th of July with Lebanese Youth Grantees and Their Families
July 9, 2007
In celebration of the 231st anniversary of American independence, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman hosted an American-style barbeque at the U.S. Embassy in Awkar for Lebanese Youth Exchange and Study (YES) scholarship winners and their parents.
More than 130 Lebanese youth have spent an academic year in the homes of American families, studying in high schools throughout the United States, since the program began in 2004.
Ambassador Feltman welcomed back to Lebanon 27 YES students and said farewell to 47 students from throughout Lebanon who will travel to the United States in August. The students are "Lebanon's finest ambassadors," said Ambassador Feltman.
In his remarks to the 250 guests, Ambassador Feltman noted, "Those who signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, were a very diverse group of men, descendants of different countries, practicing different faiths and coming from different family backgrounds. Nevertheless, they came together to proclaim the United States of America a free and sovereign nation."
"As I think about America's struggle for freedom, I see many similarities with Lebanon's own struggle. Achieving genuine sovereignty and independence was neither quick nor easy for America; we understand how difficult it is for the Lebanese to achieve the same. But, our experience has taught us that regardless of the difficulty in establishing an independent nation, it is goal worthy of the struggle and sacrifice. As the Lebanese people seek to secure an independent, sovereign, prosperous, democratic and united Lebanon, they can be confident that the United States will continue to extend its support and encouragement."
Read Ambassador Feltman's remarks.
