Ebel Saki Hike

Under the patronage and presence of former MP Dr. Elias Jarade, with the participation of the Lebanese Army Musical Band, and in coordination with the Municipality of Ebel El-Saqi, the Walk with Me Foundation and Australian Lebanese Youth Club organized a sporting event for hiking at Ebel Al-Saqi reserve in the South.

Many people from around the region participated in this event which was welcomed at first with the Lebanese National anthem. A delegation from the Australian Lebanese Youth Club headed by the Secretary General, Mr. Nabil Harb, was also part of this event. This delegation included members from Shura Council, Mr. George Ibrahim, Ms. Joelle Skaff, Public Relations Officer, Ms. Randa Ibrahim, Administrative coordinator, and Mrs. Habouba Aoun, who presented and organized this event.

Following the Lebanese National anthem, the Lebanese Army Musical Band played ceremonial and marching music, after which the hike commenced inside the reserve for one and a half kilometers. Upon returning, the founder of the Walk with Me foundation has delivered a speech.

Afterwards, speeches were delivered from of each of the following participants, the Australian Lebanon Youth Club, the municipality of Ebel Al-Saqi, the former MP Dr. Elias Jarade of Ebel Al-Saqi while playing and singing ceremonial and national anthems along with the Lebanese Army Musical Band. At the end of the event, commemorative shields were exchanged among the participants.

The Secretary-General of the Australian Lebanese Youth Club, Mr. Nabil Harb, at Ebel Al-Saqi reserve in the South has delivered his own speech and we quote:

“Greetings,

During the days when my homeland was divided, my father, may God rest his soul, was a Northerner. Here at the borders were the Lebanese army stand, he has met my mother. She was a true Southerner queen from Bourj Al Moulouk with unwavering values and high upbringings.

I did not hesitate for a moment in answering the invitation out of my devotion to this country, for this company, and for all Southerners who did not spare their blood for their country when defending our homeland was a sacred duty.

As the Secretary-General of the club, and in the name of the founder, president, and members of the Australian Lebanon Youth Club, we extend our greetings to all of you and we highly encourage and support such events under the patronage of MP Dr. Elias Jarade, the municipality of Ebel Al-Saqi and the Walk with Me Foundation.

As for the Lebanese Army Musical Band, we are sincerely grateful for their participation and contribution to this event. I would like to also acknowledge the tremendous efforts exerted by the Lebanese Army Commander in chief General Joseph Aoun during such dire times, in securing our homeland, protecting our people, preventing foreign schemes, confronting terrorism, ensuring public safety, preserving our liberty, defending our borders, and remaining forever faithful to our heroic martyrs.

Thanks to his dedicated efforts, the army has become a role model that inspires all other governmental institutions. Our homeland is not just a passport document, it is the beginning and the end, it is our only hope, our destiny, and our forever cause.

On the 36^th founding anniversary, the Australian Lebanese Youth Club renews its dedication to all these events and voices its high esteem and respect to the reserve and the competent officials. It is an honor to be part of such an event and to participate alongside the Lebanese Army musical band in their celebration.

We are the sons of a liberal Lebanon, and we hold no other loyalty except to our country. It comes as no surprise for the club to establish a monument for the martyrs of the Lebanese Army in Melbourne and strive on building strong ties with the army and the martyrs’ families. We will weave and secure solid foundation with Lebanon, residents, and expats alike. We will keep walking the reserves side by side and we shall not abandon this good land for it is ours and to our own we pass on. God bless Lebanon!”