The US embassy in Beirut issued the following press release regarding this celebration
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"In honor of the 232nd anniversary of United States' independence, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Michele J. Sison welcomed more than 700 invited guests to the U.S. Embassy July 3 to celebrate U.S. Independence Day. Those in attendance represented a wide array of Lebanese society including national and local government officials, business executives, religious leaders, Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces officers, media personalities, cultural figures and U.S. Government-sponsored program alumni.
In recognition of ongoing U.S. Government cooperation with partners from throughout Lebanon in the field of development, the U.S. Embassy also invited guests who work with USAID, the Middle East Partnership Initiative and Public Diplomacy on projects such as small business development, electoral reform, leadership training, civil society promotion, transparency, and combating trafficking in persons. These partners include the United Nations, nongovernmental organizations, relief agencies and academic institutions.
Building on the reception's country-western theme, Chargé Sison spoke to the guests about the growth of the United States in the 1800s. "The Westward Expansion was characterized by covered wagons, the Gold Rush, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the venerable American cowboy.... Ties between the United States and Lebanon extend back to the time of the Westward Expansion when Lebanese immigrants began to arrive on America's shores to help build the United States. Today, these ties between the United States and Lebanon remain unwaveringly strong."
She continued saying: "We look forward to working hand-in-hand with President Suleiman and the new government in pursuit of our common values of freedom and independence. We are optimistic that the Doha Agreement will usher in a new era of political reconciliation to benefit Lebanon and her citizens."
Tags: Independence, Lebanon, US, Ya Libnan
