The Institutes and Schools Department part of the Independence Movement’s Youth Sector, organized a candles march from the Palace of Martyr President Rene Moawad in Zgharta to the Lady of Zgharta church where lies the tomb of the Martyr President.

Upon reaching the church, a wreath of flowers was lovingly placed at President Moawad’s tomb.
Edouard Moawad, the head of the Institutes and Schools Department of the Youth Sector gave a speech in which he said:

“Your Excellency Martyr President Rene Mouawad,

The 27th anniversary of your martyrdom comes this year, with heavy hearts, but with the hope that the coming days will carry all the good for our beloved Lebanon, following the election of a new President which came after a Presidential vacancy that lasted two and a half years.

The vacancy almost led to the complete collapse and disintegration of our country and its institutions. A vacancy that had haunted your being and your conscience 27 years ago. To save the country from it, you had offered your pure life, sacrificing a long journey in public life marked by openness to the other, moderation in your approaches, firmness in your beliefs and an unwavering adherence to the values and principles that you upheld, ever refusing to cut the bridges with your partners in the one nation.

Your Excellency Martyr President,

Your Presidency was a plan part of your long political career. It constituted a dream for the main international powers because of your personal qualities and virtues making you perfectly fit to hold the first position in the country. You represented hope and a promise for a bright future. You were a man of salvation at a time of deep divisions.

Your Excellency Martyr President,

Throughout your life you were a man of solution, of moderation and openness.  You had many remarkable personal qualities: A balanced mind, cautiousness, wisdom, patience and self control which made political experts say: “Rene Moawad can drill a mountain with a needle.” In his book, ‘Curse on a Nation’ Karim Pakradouni referred to you as ‘the artist of Lebanese politics’.

Your Excellency Martyr President,

You always called for a Nation, built on clear and solid foundations, based on justice, equality, coexistence, solidarity and mutual understanding among all the Lebanese. A State with solid and properly protected Institutions. A nation that embraces all its citizens without excluding anyone, even those who exclude themselves.

Your Excellency Martyr President,

We stand today at your commemoration with the hope and conviction that your path and legacy will continue and move ahead with the President of the Independence Movement Michel Moawad who is holding today the flag and the torch after you. We are more than confident that he will successfully cope with this responsibility. We promise you to remain by his side, providing any needed support in order to realize the dream of a free, sovereign and independent country, that serves and protects all its citizens, without excluding anyone.

We will also never forget those who accompanied you in your life and in martyrdom for the sake of Lebanon: Joseph Basha, Asaad Moawad, Sayed Mora, Jaacub Moawad, Joseph Rammia, Rene Moawad and George Khawand. We promise to remain faithful to your pure souls.”