The Opening of the Emigrants' Summer in Lebanon

... The Emigrants' Summer opened on Thursday, July 21, at the UNESCO Palace, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic and Mrs. Chamoun. The opening ceremony was a magnificent popular festival in which the vast crowds gave voice to the joy and gladness surging in their breasts; and Lebanon felt that day that its being is strong in truth, thanks to the dutiful sons who have joined it — gathered this summer, or a blessed handful of them, beneath its clear sky!

At the ceremony spoke a company of distinguished emigrants come from the various continents, and in these speeches shone forth the warm affection our emigrant brothers harbor for their mother country and the deep loyalty they cherish for her; the UNESCO hall thundered with storms of stirring applause...

With the opening of the Emigrants' Summer, a varied program was set in motion, comprising excursions to the ancient sites and visits to the most important districts and projects... The Syria program likewise began on July 26, and the caravan moved on to the sister country...

The United States caravan alone is estimated at 400 persons, representing 29 states and 167 cities; and what truly gladdens the heart is that among them is a large number of the rising generation, who know little of their mother country...

According to a statement by the Commissioner of Tourism and Summering, the number of emigrants and tourists has exceeded three thousand persons...