The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) celebrated the Independence Day in a ceremony organized by the Student Affairs Office (SAO) on Monday November 21, 2011, in the presence of Rev. Fr. Hady Mahfouz, University President, Rev. Fr. Georges Hobeika, Vice-President to International Relations, Rev. Fr. Boutros Eid, Director of the SAO, in addition to a number of faculty, staff and students.

The welcome speech was delivered by Mr. Khalil Abboud, Vice-Director of the Student Affairs Office at USEK, who underlined that “this occasion should inspire us to meditate on the history of Lebanon rich with victories and sacrifices of the independence men who are a proof that Lebanese people can overcome difficulties, surpass hardships and maintain the dignity of the nation”.

While Marguerite Salloum from the Department of Journalism and Communication highlighted in the student’s speech that “our independence means our thirst for good and fairness, our independence means our thirst for equality and justice, our independence means our thirst for advancement and civilization, our independence means our thirst for culture and development”.

Rev. Fr. Hady Mahfouz, USEK President, delivered a speech in which he reminded the audience about the huge advertising campaign that USEK organized in order to support Jeita, as well as the recent victory of Lebanon’s national football team over South Korea for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign; “such events represent a source of pride for Lebanon”, Fr. Mahfouz noted. He also underlined that solidarity among people within a society contributes to achieve the required progress, regardless of the increasing challenges and difficulties that various societies are suffering from.

At the end of the ceremony, patriotic songs were performed by Marwan Chamoun who delighted the audience with his distinguished voice.